THE New Saints' top goal scorer Declan McManus and centre-back Blaine Hudson, could be set for a return to action on Friday night following a recent layoff with injury.

TNS will travel to the Deeside Stadium on Friday to play Connah's Quay Nomads in the JD Cymru Premier.

The two sides previously met at Park Hall in August when TNS ran out 2-1 winners, with Jon Routledge scoring the winning goal in the 79th minute.

McManus has been clinical in front of goal this season and scored in all 13 games he’s played and assisted twice.

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The Scots man missed the Aberystwyth fixture on the 2nd of December due to injury, but TNS still ran out 11-0 winners, which was their biggest victory of the season so far.

TNS manager Craig Harrison said: "Blane Hudson trained this week, and therefore he will be back in contention for Friday. Declan McManus will also be training at the back end of the week.

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"Yeah, definitely (crucial to have McManus back); you are always going to miss your stop goal scorer, and he is a top centre forward, and he scored 21 goals last season, and he has scored 13 in 13 this season.

"What is also key is the other three or four players that are going to chip in, and at this moment in time, you have got Ryan Brobbel, Adrian Cieslewicz and Adam Wilson, so we have got goals all around the team."

Both sides are battling it out at the top of the league, but TNS remain seven points clear in first place and have a superior goal difference.

The New Saints remain unbeaten in the league and have only dropped points twice, both coming away from home.

The game on Friday night means TNS will resume their league campaign after 18 days without a fixture due to frozen pitches.

Harrison said: "Everyone loses a bit of match fitness when you don't play games, but fortunately, we made an early and decisive decision to plan for the bad weather.

"A lot of teams have not had any sessions whatsoever because most outdoor facilities have been null and void because of the weather, but we managed to get indoor facilities."

Connah’s Quay is also on a great run of form and has only lost once in the last 10 games, but the hosts also haven’t played in the previous 18 days due to frozen pitches.