FORMER Newport County AFC striker Conor Washington says it would be a dream come true to represent Northern Ireland at Euro 2016.

Washington is set to make his international debut against Wales in Cardiff on Thursday – just five years after he was playing for non-league St Ives Town and earning a living as a postman.

And the 23-year-old, who left Rodney Parade for Peterborough United in January 2014, says his rapid rise is hard to believe.

"It doesn't seem that long ago I was playing part-time football for St Ives Town, who were five steps down from the Conference, and delivering mail for a living," recalled Washington.

"To be honest I had more or less given up hope of ever playing the game professionally and had even considered joining the RAF at one stage!

"I was though enjoying my football at St Ives and in one season I actually scored 53 goals in 50 games, then the opportunity arose for me to go to Newport County and I jumped at the chance."

Born in Chatham in Kent, Washington has always been aware of his Irish roots and although he could have also played for Scotland there was never any doubt in his mind who he was going to declare for.

"I've always known that I was eligible to play football for Northern Ireland as my Grandmother was from Belfast," he told the Belfast Telegraph.

"I could have also played for Scotland as my mother is from there, but that was never really an option – much to my mother's disappointment.

"My gran, who passed away 10 years ago, lived in England, so I've never actually been to Northern Ireland but I still have relations living in and around the Belfast area."

Looking ahead to the Wales and Slovenia games, Washington is under no illusions just how difficult it is going to be to be part of the Northern Ireland set-up heading to France in just under three months.

"I would love nothing better than to make to the Euros but there are a lot of quality striker's ahead of me at the minute so I have to be realistic,” he said.

"Obviously everyone knows about Kyle Lafferty and I've played against Will Grigg a few times and he always seems to score!

"But there is also Liam Boyce, Josh Magennis and Billy McKay who are all banging in the goals up in Scotland.

"The main thing now though is I've managed to get a call up into the squad so it's up to me to show the manager, players and the fans what I can do and that I deserve to be here.

"If I did manage to make it to France with Northern Ireland it would be a dream come true, as everyone wants to pit themselves against the best players in the world."