Euro star Leo Smith closing in on major goals record

Leo Smith has scored six European goals in as many matches for The New Saints. Picture: BRIAN JONES, TNS FC

Having scored in each of his last six European matches for The New Saints, midfield star Leo Smith is fast closing in on an all-time record.

Bangor-born Smith, 23, who signed for TNS from Caernarfon Town in July 2020, is now joint second on the list for most goals scored in Europe by a Welsh Premier League player.

Connah’s Quay Nomads veteran Michael Wilde is currently top on seven, six of which were netted in TNS colours, while Smith, Dean Ebbe and Scott Quigley have six, all of them for Saints.

Wilde has headed the chart for five years, since bagging his seventh European goal in Connah’s Quay’s 2-1 home defeat against Vojvodina of Serbia in July 2016.

With WPL results in Europe showing vast improvement, especially via the present top two Nomads and TNS, the record should go fairly soon.

Saints have qualified for the Europa Conference League third qualifying round, where they will take on Czech club FC Viktoria Plzeň, so Smith and Ebbe could have the chance to set a new mark on either August 5 or 12.

TOP SCORERS IN EUROPE FROM THE WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE
(UP TO AND INCLUDING JULY 29, 2021)

7 – Mike Wilde (Connah’s Quay Nomads – 6 for TNS)

6 – Leo Smith (TNS), Dean Ebbe (TNS), Scott Quigley (TNS)

5 – Matty Williams (TNS)

4 – Rhys Griffiths (Llanelli), Steve Evans (TNS), Callum Morris (Connah’s Quay Nomads)

3 – Ian Sheridan (Bala Town), Lee Hunt (Rhyl), Alex Darlington (TNS), Tim Hicks (Carmarthen/Haverfordwest), Gary Lloyd (Barry Town/Carmarthen), Stuart Jones (Llanelli), Declan McManus (TNS), Danny Davies (TNS)