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 fateStriker Young rejoins Welsh champions TNSPressure part of the job for TNS boss HarrisonBorn 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 Qu