New Saints strength in depth crucial, says Harrison

Brad Young celebrates with New Saints teammates after scoring against Decic

The New Saints manager Craig Harrison says the strength in depth of his squad will be crucial if they are to progress in the Champions League.

The Cymru Premier champions travel to Montenegro for the second leg of their qualifier against FK Decic on Tuesday.

Harrison’s side won 3-0 in last week's first leg at Park Hall in Oswestry.

“I definitely feel the strength in depth,” Harrison told BBC Radio Shropshire after the first-leg victory.

“We’ve still got four players [to come back] and that’s not to mention Ryan Astles who has been out for a long time with a cruciate injury.

“We’ve got lads coming back in and we’re going to need every single person.

“Any good team has got a base of 20-odd players.”

Harrison was without Harrison McGahey, Matthew Olosunde, Adrian Cieslewicz and Jordan Marshall for last week’s first leg.

Brad Young’s brace and Dan Davies’ goal in the first half puts Saints in a strong position ahead of the second leg, with Hungary’s Ferencvaros awaiting in the next round.

“Obviously very happy but we know it’s half-time in the tie – it’s far from anything’s won,” Harrison added.

“They’re a good team and they showed in the second half when they put us under pressure, but we defended well.

“But I think at any one point we can score a goal.

“I think we will score a goal out there, we’ve just got to make sure we keep a clean sheet.”