The New Saints face FC Midtjylland on Thursday in the third round of the UEFA Europa League, but what three players should the Welsh Premier League Champions be wary of?
The New Saints defeated the Lincoln Red Imps over two legs last week as Dean Ebbe scored a late equaliser to book their place in the next round.
So, what players from the Danish outfit do they need to keep a close eye on? We take a look below…
Paul Onuachu (Striker)
The Nigerian striker arguably poses the biggest threat to the New Saints back-line. He stands at a colossal 6 ft 7 stature – and will no doubt cause Scott Ruscoe’s side problems at the back.
He joined FC Midtjylland in 2012 and the 24-year-old has gone onto score 34 times in 100 appearances for the Danish side, including 28 over the past two seasons.
Onuachu has also already scored in the Danish Superliga this season in the three appearances he has made and was called up to the Nigeria under-23 side in 2015.
Mikkel Duelund (Midfielder)
The young midfielder has been a massive success for the Danish Champions over the course of the last two seasons and the 21-year-old has scored 16 goals combined in the last two seasons in the Superliga.
Duelund also became the seventh youngest player to score 10 goals or more in the Danish top-flight during the 2016/2017 season and he will no doubt be a massive driving force at the heart of the FC Midtjylland midfield come Thursday evening.
Marc Dal Hende (Attacking midfielder/left-back)
What makes Hende so effective is the fact he is so versatile. He can play as a left-back, as well as help out in the attack, playing as an attacking midfielder.
The 27-year-old, who joined the club in 2017 scored 11 goals last season and his creative zest and tenacity could be a big problem for Ruscoe’s side, and he is perhaps the player The New Saints should be most wary of ahead of the Third Round UEFA Europa League qualification phase.
(Featured image: Vagelis Georgariou)
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