The New Saints gear up for Euro test with Irish trip
The New Saints head to Belfast tomorrow as they tune up their UEFA Champions League preparations with a tasty friendly at Danske Bank high-flyers Cliftonville.
After hitting six goals in each of their two warm-up games against Cefn Druids and Aberystwyth Town, Saints make the trip to Northern Ireland in fine fettle.
It will be their last run-out before their Champions League second qualifying round tie at Slovakian outfit SK Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday, July 15.
And manager Craig Harrison will be hoping his players can maintain the momentum after winning 6-3 at Welsh Premier rivals Aberystwyth Town last Saturday, when Mike Wilde scored five of the goals.
Cliftonville will certainly provide stiff opposition as they also feature in Champions League action later this month when they tackle Hungarian side Debreceni.
This weekend's rivals are no strangers, with the Saints winning 1-0 in a friendly last season, while three years ago they defeated the Belfast side 2-1 on aggregate in the Europa League.
"It's the ideal game to have as we know it will be a big test for us," said Harrison. "But we're looking sharp and everything has gone to plan so far. The whole squad have now had 90 minutes under their belts, and we can now focus on tomorrow which is our last friendly before the Champions League."
Forward Alex Darlington has played a part in the opening two friendlies, and showed no reaction following the broken foot that kept him out of the latter stages of last season.
Winger Jamie Mullan is the only concern as he requires a hernia operation at some stage, but he may still figure in the European venture.
"He's not 100 per cent fit, and we're waiting to see when he needs the operation," said Harrison. "We're hopeful he may play some part in the next few weeks."
n TNS host Championship side Middlesbrough in a friendly on August 2 at Park Hall (2.30pm).
