STELIOS has called for stay-away fans to start making their way back to the Reebok Stadium.

The Greece international admits the empty seats that have become a more regular feature at Wanderers' home over recent months have started to gain some of the players' attentions.

And with his compatriots, Aris Thessaloniki, in town for the latest UEFA Cup group game tonight, the midfielder hopes more supporters will be convinced to come through the turnstiles after recent encouraging results.

Wanderers suffered their lowest Premiership attendances in a decade at the Reebok in their last two games before they recorded a near full house in the 1-0 victory over Manchester United.

It was a result that moved the club out of the relegation zone, and knowing a further victory over Aris in tonight's game could ease the pressure in their final Group F game against Crvena Zvezda in Serbia next week, Stelios has called for another show of support.

"We need the fans to come and support us in bigger numbers because there have not been so many at home games," he said. "I am not used to seeing the Reebok Stadium half empty.

"It is not a good picture to see for a footballer. While at the same time, teams that struggle during the season are playing in front of near-full capacity stadiums.

"If we do not have people's support in the difficult times, then when? Now is the time we need them, especially after the result against Manchester United.

"I think we deserve to have a full house tonight and every game we play at home until the end of the season."

Whether Stelios will be at the Reebok in May is still a matter of conjecture, with Reading the latest club linked with his signature in the January transfer window.

Though the 33-year-old resisted the urged to comment directly about the speculation regarding a move to the Madjeski Stadium, he did concede that tonight's game could be an opportunity to put an overdue marker down on a first team position.

"Every player wants to play," he reasoned. "If I am not then I have to see what I can do for my future.

"The only thing I can do now is to focus on my next game tonight. If I get picked, I have to try my best to stay in the team.

"I am not starting the games I would like to start. That troubles me because I am used to playing week-in, week-out."

Stelios won seven Greek championships with Athens club, Olympiakos, before making the switch to the Premiership nearly five years ago.

In his time away from his home country, Aris - based in Greece's second city Thessaloniki - have grown to become genuine contenders to the title.

They currently lie fourth in the table and have recently recruited an exciting mix of Spanish and Latin American talent, making them a dangerous prospect, Stelios admitted.

"Aris are a very good team. They have made good progress over the last two years.

"They have bought some very good Spanish-based and Latin Amercan players and play attacking football. We have some very tough opponents.

"I have helped the manager with three or four players because I know them from Greece but the rest are new to me."