Perennial Welsh champions The New Saints have already played eight European matches this season but tonight they create history by becoming the first Welsh team to play in the group stages of a major European competition.

TNS take on Fiorentina in the Europa Conference and their Wrexham-born keeper Connor Roberts accepts it will be a far sterner test than anything experienced before.

“We’ve managed to attract a bit more attention to the Welsh Premiership with our run in Europe and it’s fantastic to play a team like Fiorentina,” said Roberts (pictured above).

“Hopefully we can keep that solidity we’ve had in the European campaign. It’s a big ask, but giving the best version of ourselves is what counts.”

Manchester United are also in Conference action at Porto, who 40 years ago today were famously knocked out of the European Cup Winners Cup by Wrexham.

Erik ten Hag, meanwhile, insists United’s poor start to the campaign is nothing “to panic about” as the under-fire manager ignores talk of the sack and focuses on ending the season with more silverware.

“We are in here together,” said ten Hag. “We made in the summer togetherness, the ownership, the leadership, this agreement, and we are all behind it.

“Nothing is easy, but this is nothing for me to panic about.”