The NEW SAINTS boss Scott Ruscoe has admitted his side's sojourn for hot weather training in Portugal last week has been hugely successful.

Ruscoe finally convinced owner Mike Harris to allow him to take his player abroad for four days of intensive training, choosing Faro as it where they played FC Europa in the Champions League last year.

Ruscoe admitted he was blown away by the facilities on offer at the complex and insisted his players were given a thorough working over, with a hard session before the flight home.

"Portugal was very much worthwhile, but we knew it would be," he said.

"We had two to three sessions a day and we were able to get the players working, including a massive blast before we left.

"We did some different things because of what was available to us; they had some brilliant pitches there, both 3G and grass that we were able to do some proper running on.

"They had a state-of-the-art gym, with an inside and outside pool – everything we could have asked for really.

"The players enjoyed, including the new ones who came in that week and got to know the established players, while the food was excellent.

"There was nothing at all not up to scratch."

Ruscoe is looking froward to turning his side's focus onto the friendlies – starting tomorrow with a home clash against fellow European hopefuls Cefn Druids – and also wants to make further additions to his squad.

The focus is on being ready for the first qulaifier on July 10/11 and expects to have his full squad available from yesterday onwards.

He added: "We’re hoping to be back at it at Park Hall this week and potentially some more signings this week. We’ve got three weeks between now and the first leg of the first leg of the Champions League first round qualifier.

"Any signings coming in have the chance to be in that side come July 10/11. Danny Redmond starts this week too as he’s had a few weeks extra off because he only finished in May.

"He needed that break otherwise he’d have just been going on and on, but he will be expected to hit the ground running.

"The boys have had two weeks now and are up to full speed, but we’ll hopefully complete the squad numbers of 22 by Tuesday and Wednesday."

The Druids game kicks-off at 7.30pm with Saints' signings on show. Admission is £5, £2 concessions and under-16s free.