GREENOCK football ace Nicky Low is relishing the chance of Europa League football after signing a contract extension with Derry City.

The 25-year-old midfielder joined the League of Ireland Premiership side from Dundee in February, initially on loan until the end of this month.

But with the club half-way through their season and a Europa League qualifier against Danish side FC Midtjylland tonight to look forward to, the former Aberdeen player was keen to stay and finish what he started.

He has established himself as a regular in former Morton manager Kenny Shiels’ starting 11 and, having penned a contract extension until November, is now hoping for his first European start against the club which beat Manchester United in the first leg of their round of 32 tie last year.

Low told the Tele: “That was part of why I signed an extension because we have a couple of big games coming up against Midtjylland and I’m looking forward to it.

“They’re a good side, they beat Man United last year. Out of about a hundred teams we could’ve got they’re the hardest.

“It couldn’t have worked out worse that way to be honest.

“But it’s a great test and one we’re looking forward to.”

Former Real Madrid and Netherlands star Rafael van der Vaart now plies his trade with the Danish side and Low can’t wait to test himself against players of that calibre.

He said: “I played in Europe previously with Aberdeen, five or six games I’m sure, all off the bench.

“But I played Groningen both times home and away and played against Real Sociedad, which was brilliant. I’ve not started any so hopefully I can in these two games coming up.

“As a player you look forward to these games because it’s a big test and they’ve got guys like Rafael van der Vaart in their team, who’s got 120 caps for Holland and played for Real Madrid.

“In fact he can’t even get a game, he’s on the bench, so that shows just how good a squad they’ve got.

“And he’s a left-footer like me so he’s always been a favourite of mine.”

The former St Columba’s High pupil, who won the League Cup with Aberdeen three years ago, has signed on loan until the end of the Irish league season and says there’s lots to look forward to.

Low said: “It’s all been about the league campaign so far but we’ve got the FAI Cup coming up and it’s massive here — the equivalent of the Scottish Cup — we’ve got Europe to play in and the league campaign and it’s close for another European position with a few months to go.

“So it’s all to play for and the second half of the season will be huge and that’s part of why I wanted to stay plus I’m playing every week and playing well.

“It was a no-brainer when I knew they were interested.”