CHARLTON defender Mark Fish has challenged his team-mates to go all out for a place in Europe next season.

The 30-year-old put his recent injury behind him by agreeing a new one-year deal at The Valley and now wants the team to aim for a top six place in 2004-05.

Fish has been out of action since mid-March when he seriously damaged his chest after falling onto a glass vase at home.

And it has been frustrating for the South African international watching from the sidelines as Charlton slipped out of contention firstly for a place in the Champions League and then the UEFA Cup.

He said: “It has been a good season but, at one stage, we were looking really positive and like we were going to have a remarkable season.

“I am not disappointed that we didn’t get into the Champions League, because that would have been the cherry on top of the cake, but I am disappointed at not getting into Europe because I think we had a really good chance.

“We’ve just got to look forward now. This season the aim was to get into the top half of the table whereas you would like to think that when the manager gets us together for next season we will be looking at nothing less than getting into Europe.

“You are going to have the top three teams - Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea - who everyone has to compete with financially and squad-wise. But we have established ourselves in the Premiership and next season it should be top six or nothing.”

Fish was pleased to have agreed terms for a year after a potentially career threatening injury that resulted in him losing eight pints of blood and needing 39 stitches.

He added: “The contract was just an option and the club decided to take it up. It will be another year of being a Charlton player - an Addick - and I feel I’m fortunate that they’ve done it because I’ve been injured.”