Former Aston Villa forward outlines his bold new ambition after top-flight move
TNS striker Brad Young celebrates wth teammate Ben Clark after scoring. (Image: Sgorio)
The New Saints remain unbeaten in the Cymru Premier this season and are nine points clear of second-placed Connah’s Quay Nomads at the top of the league.
One man who has helped with the goals for TNS this season has been former Aston Villa youngster Brad Young, who joined the club during the summer transfer window.
Having racked up eight goals in nine league games, Young has made an instant impact on Wales’ top flight.
He signed for the club just before the summer window deadline, fending off interest from clubs from the English Football League.
“I got a message from the assistant manager on WhatsApp,” revealed the young forward who provided an insight as to how the club pitched the move to him.
“They were interested in me and wanted to speak on a Zoom call.
“They were just telling me a bit about the club and their ambitions. I didn’t even know the Welsh League existed. I didn’t know anything.“
He would make his debut in the Scottish Challenge Cup, scoring against Hibernian Under 21’s, in a 3-0 win for TNS. With eight goals already to his name in the Cymru Premier from nine games, the 20-year-old has made his aims clear for the rest of the season.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” said Young. I was thinking why is a Welsh team playing a Scottish team in the cup?
“It was an interesting one, coming on and scoring on my debut, so I was over the moon with that.“
“I’m getting there. I’m not 100% there at the moment. My fitness is pretty much there, it’s just getting used to the astro.
“I struggled in Scotland because we were training on Astro and I fractured my foot, so my body’s starting to get used to it again.“
TNS are firing on all cylinders at the moment and are on the hunt for silverware in four competitions. They’re nine points clear of nearest-placed Connah’s Quay and are in the semi-finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup, as well as the quarter-finals of the Scottish Challenge Cup against Arbroath.
This weekend, TNS face Trethomas Bluebirds in the third round of Welsh Cup, and he will be eager to make his debut in the competition having been an unused substitute in the 5-0 win against Ruthin Town.
His eight goals in nine league games currently has him ranked in sixth in the race for the Golden Boot, and that’s the individual prize he is gunning for.
“To achieve with TNS is to win everything I possibly can,” he said.
“Whether that’s as a team or as an individual, but mainly as a team. I want to finish top goalscorer and I want to win everything and that’s my mentality.“
