CHRISTIAN Ribeiro believes Oxford United have the quality to reach the Championship and rekindle his international ambitions with Wales.

The full back won two senior caps while playing in the second tier with Bristol City at the start of his career.

It included a 4-1 Euro 2012 qualifying defeat away to Switzerland in October 2010, where Gareth Bale scored their consolation goal.

The side also included the likes of Ashley Williams and Wayne Hennessey, who have been key members of Wales’s stunning Euro 2016 campaign.

It continues with the semi-final against Portugal tonight and Ribeiro admits he has watched them progress in France with mixed feelings.

He said: “I’ve played with 95 per cent of the Wales squad that’s doing so well now.

“I’m amazed how well they’ve done, it’s fantastic, but there’s also that part of me that’s very jealous and envious.

“I would love to be there myself.”

Ribeiro signed for the U’s last month after two years at Exeter City and is looking forward to playing back in League One this season.

But the ambitious 26-year-old is on a mission to climb another level with United, which would put him back in the frame for an international call.

He said: “When I came through at Bristol City I was playing Championship football and managed to make my debut for Wales.

“It’s my dream to get back to these sorts of levels.

“I’m not here thinking this is the highest I’m going to play, I’m here to push myself to be as good as I can to help bring the team to getting back to the Championship and beyond.

“I think if you’re not ambitious in football there’s something wrong.

“The whole set-up here at Oxford shouts it out to me that everyone is striving for more.

“I’m looking forward to being part of that, because I have big ambitions for my career.

“I’m 26 but I still feel I have something more to give and I feel a little bit hard done by in my career so far.

“I’m chasing lost time a little bit.”

United had a change from their pre-season training at Bisham Abbey yesterday and instead tackled physical challenges at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

They are building up to the opening friendly match of pre-season, at Solihull Moors on Saturday.