The New Saints’ winger Richie Partridge has been forced to quit football as the result of a persistent knee injury.

The 30-year-old former Liverpool trainee and Irish Under-21 international joined TNS a year ago and scored 11 goals from 26 Welsh Premier appearances last season.

His departure comes as Welsh under-19s international midfielder Tom Roberts checks in at the Oswestry club.

Partridge made three League Cup appearances during an injury-strewn four years at Anfield.

He subsequently made 154 Football League appearances at Bristol Rovers, Coventry City, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, Chester City, MK Dons and Stockport County.

“Richie’s injury unfortunately has brought his career to an end, which is bad news for him and for the club,” said The New Saints’ director of football Mike Davies.

“We would like to thank Richie for his time with TNS and wish him every success in the future.”

Meanwhile, the Saints have signed have completed a deal for Roberts, who was released by Aston Villa earlier this year.

The 19-year-old, who hails from Denbighshire, started his footballing life at Manchester United before being released at the end of his schoolboy years.

He then joined Aston Villa to complete a two-year youth scholarship that started in the summer of 2008.

Roberts, who has also been capped for Wales at Under-16 and Under-19 levels, played his last game for Villa in the 2-1 FA Youth Cup final defeat against Chelsea in early May.

He has since had pre-season trials at Doncaster Rovers, Carlisle United and Hartlepool, scoring twice in a win over South Shields.