Sean Dillon reckons Dundee United are continental under-achievers - and is desperate to change that.

The fourth-placed Tangerines host rejuvenated Ross County today as they bid to finish the season in style by securing that coveted third spot in the Premiership which would guarantee them a dream return to the Euro scene next season.

United have in recent seasons managed to qualify for the UEFA Europa League for three successive years where they faced AEK Athens, Slask Wroclaw, and Dynamo Moscow when they brought a sense of the glory days back to Tannadice. Now they are aiming to get back onto that star-studded stage under Jackie McNamara and defender Dillon, who joined the club back in 2007, reckons it's high time they did.

"We haven't done it often enough, in my opinion," Dillon said yesterday. "It is an achievement when it happens and I just feel, certainly during my time here, that the club hasn't been there as many times as we should have been. Personally, it has been nice to be involved when we have been there and it would be nice to do it all again. European matches are always great to be involved in.

"They are big nights for the fans and it kicks off your season on a high note. It also ends your season in a nice way. As a player, I have always wanted to finish the final game of the campaign in a manner that sends the supporters home happy and qualifying for Europe would do that I think.

"We have a good chance of getting there and that's a real positive. We will be doing everything we can to ensure, after recent massive disappointments, that we finish off with a European place. As I said, that would be a real achievement for United."

Dillon is fit again after a painful shin injury sustained against Celtic in last month's League Cup Final which they lost 2-0 at Hampden and is gearing up to lead their push for Europe over the last ten games.

The 31-year-old Dubliner was one the wrong end of a heavy challenge from Virgil Van Dijk but insists he's ready for the battle which lies ahead.

Dillon said: "The injury was a bad one. Adrenaline masked the pain for a while but on the Monday morning it was really bad. I wasn't able to do any training and that made it a long couple of weeks. I was back working with the lads on Tuesday and am feeling fine now."

McNamara's men face a crunch clash with Jim McIntyre's revived Staggies on Tayside today in their quest to return to winning ways, with Dillon determined to seize the opportunity to kick-start their season again.

He said: "It would be nice to bounce back after a bad few weeks. In the build-up to the final we were all desperate to play in that and then afterwards we were just as desperate to feature in the other games.

"We can only turn all that into a positive thing now by winning games again. We got a few days off and it has been a good week looking forward to the Ross County game. Getting away from everything was good and I think the international break came at the right time for us. We won't forget what happened over the last few weeks but we are keen to push on now."

Ross County defender Marcus Fraser is available for the trip to Tannadice after recovering from a hamstring strain.

Tony Dingwall is suspended and Michael Gardyne is ineligible under the terms of his loan deal from United.