TNS keeper Connor Roberts relishing next European steps

Roberts has impressed between the posts in both of the Park Hall club’s opening league phase fixtures.

After making a string of fine saves as Saints gave a good account of themselves before losing 2-0 to Fiorentina in Italy, Roberts then played his part in last month’s fine 2-0 win over Astana from Kazakhstan

.“It’s amazing - I can’t tell you how amazing it is,” said Roberts, 31, who is relishing having regular European fixtures to play alongside a busy domestic campaign. 

“I am one of those players who want to try and make themselves available every fixture, and that’s what I’ll continue to do,” he added.

“I think we’ve got nine games this month, so it’s a lot, and then we had nine last month as well. It is an awful lot of games, but we are relishing the challenge.”

Reflecting on kicking off the league phase against Serie A giants Fiorentina, Roberts said: “Obviously, the experience was top. It was outstanding. The facilities there are unique. It’s not one of these modern grounds. It’s got a bit of character about it.

“What I will say is I was busy on the night, and so were the players. It wasn’t just down to me that night. The players in front of me defended really well. “It was some experience, I must say, and they’ve been going really well in the league since. 

"I do keep an eye on the teams that we’ve played against and they’ve been going really well.”

Then came the historic first league phase win for Saints against Astana under the lights at their temporary European home of Shrewsbury Town’s Croud Meadow.

“I think that almost just introduced us to the competition really,” added Roberts. 

"You’re going into Thursday with a lot more confidence off the back of a win, of course you are, it’s three points already on the board.

“Hopefully more, obviously go out there and try and get all three, but even a point away at Shamrock would just be a fantastic result.

“It does give you some great confidence. The night at Shrewsbury I must say was a great spectacle, not just for TNS but for the whole of Welsh football personally, and I think for the lower leagues in the Football League too, because I think by all accounts there was a lot of Shrewsbury Town fans there that were really impressed I think by the whole evening.

“One, being the performance, and, two, being just the minor details around the evening itself. It was a really good spectacle.” 

Shamrock Rovers, tonight’s opponents in Dublin, have taken four points from their opening two league phase fixtures.

They followed a 1-1 draw against Cypriot club Apoel by beating Larne 4-1 at Windsor Park last month, with Graham Burke, who had a spell on loan to Shrewsbury Town in 2013, among the goalscorers.

Two of Shamrock’s remaining three league phase fixtures after hosting TNS tonight will be away matches against Rapid Vienna and Chelsea.