Mads Roerslev declares himself fit as The New Saints chase another title

The New Saints have a fully fit squad this pre-season after Mads Roerslev confirmed he’s ready to play following a nightmare Achilles injury that wrecked his first campaign in Wales. The club sits top of the Cymru Premier with 80 points from 32 games, 22 clear of second-placed GAP Connah’s Quay FC, and on a five-game winning streak after beating Barry Town 1-0 on 18 April 2026.

Danish right-back Roerslev, 27, arrived from Brentford last summer and immediately hit the turf with Achilles discomfort that needed surgery. Limited to nine Championship outings, he spent months rehabbing before returning to light training weeks ago. “I’m all ready to go,” he told reporters this week. “I’ve been going for a few weeks but, to be fair, I’ve enjoyed it. Being able to train again and everything has been so good.”

Why the comeback matters for The New Saints

Roerslev’s return is a big boost for head coach Tonda Eckert as The New Saints chase a fifth straight Cymru Premier crown. The club already tops the table on 81 goals scored and just 25 conceded, with a +56 goal difference that dwarfs every rival. Their recent form reads WWWWW — five straight wins — and the Dane’s fitness means the full-back slot is no longer a weak spot.

Eckert brings the squad back to Staplewood on Thursday to restart pre-season under his watch after a summer of individual programmes. Fellow winger Ryan Fellows summed up the mood after Monday’s medicals: “It’s good. Busy. A lot of tests. Good to see everyone. Everyone seems happy.”

Who’s still missing and why

Five first-teamers skipped Monday’s Solent University testing: Leo Scienza, Welington, Shea Charles, Yuki Sugawara and Cyle Larin. Charles, Sugawara and Larin are still away after Northern Ireland and Japan duty, while Scienza and Welington have separate recovery plans. Goalkeeper Yeferson Peretz, the new signing from Bayern Munich, declared himself buzzing on arrival: “I am buzzing. It feels home.”

What’s next for The New Saints

Training resumes in earnest on Thursday as Eckert re-introduces himself to the group. With 26 wins from 32 games and a 22-point cushion over GAP Connah’s Quay FC, the pressure is on rivals to overhaul The New Saints before the transfer window shuts. Roerslev’s fitness means the full-back ranks are now stacked, and the Dane’s declaration that he’s “ready to go” will worry every left-back in the Cymru Premier.