Why TNS player had shirt number written in pen

Welsh champions The New Saints had to send a player into Tuesday's Champions League tie against Shkendija with his squad number written on the back of his shirt with a ballpoint pen.

TNS inked their place in history last year when they made it to the group round of the Uefa Conference League - the first time a Welsh league side had reached that stage of a European competition.

But the Saints made their mark in a different way in their first European tie of the new season as a blood spill left them scrambling for a spare shirt in their Champions League qualifier against Shkendija.

In first-half added time of the first qualifying round first leg fixture at Park Hall, TNS staff were seen writing the number 18 on the back of a replacement shirt for midfielder Rory Holden.

Holden's original jersey was left covered in blood following an incident earlier in the first half.

And it has been confirmed referee Rob Hennessy informed the Saints that Holden - - whose goal helped the club to a Conference League group stage win over Astana last season - needed to leave the pitch to swap his shirt.

With the spare jersey having no name or number on the rear, club staff had to write Holden's number on the back of the shirt so he could return to the field of play.

The makeshift number was not needed for long, with the half-time whistle sounding soon after and Holden reappearing for the second half with the standard printed name and number.

Holden was withdrawn in the 80th minute of the Shkendija game, which ended goalless.

The return leg takes place in Skopje on Tuesday, 15 July (19:00 BST) with a second qualifying round tie against FCSB of Romania or Andorra's Inter Club d'Escaldes awaiting the winners.

Craig Harrison's Saints are bidding to reach the proper rounds of the competition for the first time in their history having progressed to the group stages of the Conference League last season.

Speaking after the first leg draw with North Macedonia-based Shkendija, TNS boss Harrison said: "It was a pretty even game possession-wise but I think we created the better opportunities. In the first half we had three or four opportunities that we should have done better with.

"In the second half we had a big chance and it's a good save by the goalkeeper to be fair, he's a big lad and he's got his whole frame out and kept it out.

"Maybe a 1-0 win probably would have been deserved on opportunities. I'm happy with the clean sheet but a little bit disappointed that we couldn't score a goal."