ABERDEEN FC skipper Paul Hartley is targeting maximum points from the opening two Euro 2012 qualifiers with Scotland.

The 33-year-old’s impressive start to his Pittodrie career has earned a recall to Craig Levein’s international side.

Hartley is now in contention for the qualifier against Lithuania in Kaunas on Friday and Liechtenstein at Hampden on Tuesday.

Hartley has met up with the Scotland squad at their camp in preparation for the qualifying double header.

He said: “In recent years we have not got off to the best of starts in qualifying campaigns.

“We will be going for maximum points because if we can get two wins from the opening games it will give us a lot of confidence.”

Hartley will vie with Rangers’ Lee McCulloch for the holding midfield position in Lithuania.

And the Aberdeen FC skipper is desperate to add to his tally of 25 international caps.

“I am absolutely delighted to be back in the Scotland set up again and, hopefully, I can start in Lithuania,” he said.

“We are expecting a tough game in Kaunas but we are going into the qualifier with confidence.

“If we can get a win it will build up some early momentum that we can take into the game against Liechtenstein at Hampden.”

Hartley, who will turn 34 in October, has been named in the squad along with Rangers’ 40-year-old veteran David Weir.

“It is not about age but about how you are playing at the time and if you are showing form,” he said. “We are in the squad on merit.”