The BUILD-UP towards The New Saints's European challenge is officially underway after Scott Ruscoe's men returned to pre-season training yesterday.

The group of players, missing the departed Connell Rawlinson, Wes Fletcher and Steve Saunders, were put through their paces on the Park Hall pitch and were joined by new signings Josh Hmami, Kane Lewis, Joash Nembhard and Danny Redmond.

Lewis, 20, joins from Liverpool's Academy, where he was highly-rated and he admitted he was delighted to join the Welsh Premier League champions.

"I am very pleased to have finally put pen to paper with this amazing club and to see what the future holds," he told the club's website. "I’m looking forward to the Champions League qualifiers and being a part of an ongoing trophy-winning club. I can’t wait to get started."

Lewis is Ruscoe's fourth signing of the summer after clearing the decks at Park Hall, and the TNS boss is delighted to make his capture.

He added: “It’s a very good signing for the football club, a versatile defender with excellent pedigree even at such a young age. Comfortable in possession and will give us lots of options at the back.”

Former Staines Town man Nembhard is also looking forward to getting going, with Ruscoe delighted by the 20-year-old's commitment in moving from London.

Meanwhile, the Saints' pre-season schedule is starting to take shape ahead of their first qualifier on July 11, with the draw – with TNS seeded – set for two weeks today.

TNS will host Cefn Druids, also from the Welsh Premier League, on June 20 (7.30pm) with both sides having eyes on European games.

n Jamie Mullan was named the league's Player of the Year at Saturday's awards evening, where club owner Mike Harris was on hand to collect his award in his absence.

He pipped his TNS teammate Greg Draper to the award, as well as Aberystwyth's Declan Walker to win the award in a season which saw him score the winner in the League Cup final.

Draper was present to collect his Golden Boot award from S4C commentator Malcolm Allen but it wasn't to be for Ruscoe, who was beaten to manager of the Year by Cefn's Huw Griffiths while Tom Holland missed out of Young Player of the Year.