Hughes relishing Champions League bow after TNS switch

Rhys Hughes is a former Wales Under-21 international [FAW] Rhys Hughes says the prospect of a return to full-time football was a "no-brainer" after his move to The New Saints. The 23-year-old winger has been a standout performer in the Cymru Premier over recent years with Connah's Quay Nomads, scoring 33 goals in 72 appearances and winning the league's player of the season award in 2025. For the former Everton youngster, who also had a spell at Tranmere Rovers, the offer from TNS was an opportunity he could not turn down. "It was a no-brainer as soon as I knew there was interest," he said. "You want to be playing full-time and doing this every day and that will just help your performances on the pitch - being sharper and fitter. "Speaking to Craig and the way he wants to play and the club itself, the trophies it's won, the set-up - it just all fitted perfectly for me." TNS to face Sabah as Welsh sides learn Euro fate Striker Young rejoins Welsh champions TNS Pressure part of the job for TNS boss Harrison Born in Wrexham but a graduate of Everton's academy, Hughes signed his first professional contract in January 2020. Playing alongside the likes of Anthony Gordon and Coventry's Ellis Simms, Hughes scored three goals and provided six assists in 15 league games for Everton's under-18s during the 2019-20 season and would go on to play for the under-23s. "I can only speak highly of Everton as a club and the people there," Hughes said. "I spent all my childhood there from aged five until I was 20, which is a long time. "As you're there from so young, the club instills values and morals and helps you turn into the person you are." Following his release by Everton in the summer of 2022, Hughes moved across the Mersey to Tranmere Rovers. He scored one goal in 18 league appearances in two years at Prenton Park, which included loan spells at non-league Chester and Curzon Ashton. Rhys Hughes was with Everton from the age of five [Getty Images] After leaving Tranmere, Hughes joined Connah's Quay in August 2024. "Going part-time is different but it makes you want to succeed even more," Hughes said. "I wanted to get confidence and play week in, week out and show what I can do." In his first season at the club - under manager Billy Paynter - Hughes was an ever-present in the league and helped Nomads to the JD Welsh Cup final. "I loved my time there. He [Paynter] really instilled the confidence in me to show my ability and be the player I am," Hughes said. "That's where all the goals come from, just being able to express myself." A further 15 league goals followed last season as Nomads, then under John Disney, finished runners-up in the Cymru Premier before TNS came knocking. But he is taking nothing for granted as the Welsh champions prepare to kick off their Champions League qualifiers. "It's going to be tough to cement your place but it's a challenge I'm looking forward to," he said. "There are so many good players. In training games you see how good the players are and the quality we've got in the whole group." Saints face Sabah of Azerbaijan in the first qualifying round aiming to emulate the feats of the 2024-25 season in the Uefa Conference League when they became the first Welsh domestic side to play in the group stages of a European competition. "That would be brilliant, wouldn't it?" Hughes said. "Speaking to some of the lads and the experiences they had, they say it was unbelievable. "It'll be my first time in the Champions League so hopefully it'll be a brilliant experience and one we can do really well."