TNS’S goalscoring hero Declan McManus says his star showing on the UEFA Conference League is proof that he’s back to his best.

The Scotman’s second-half penalty capped off a fine frontman showing as The New Saints picked up their first-ever competitive European win with a 2-0 victory over FC Astana.

McManus played 90 minutes – withdrawn with seconds to go – which comes after 18 months of injury agony, bit-part showings and emotional turmoil.

READ MORE: TNS pick up historic first European win against FC Astana

And he gave himself the ‘pat on the back’ for his hard work that led back to a goal and player of the match performance.

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“I’m back, 100 per cent – it’s been a tough 18 months with injuries and it’s been stop-start,” he said.

“It was tough in that time but I knew that I had to work my socks off and I always back myself when I’m put in that I’ll do the job.

“Once we’d qualified, I knew with my broken leg I was against the clock to get myself fit and every day, that was in my head.

“Thankfully that’s all paid off tonight.

“I am delighted with myself – you have to give yourself a pat on the back which I don’t do very often.

“I worked my socks off every day, double sessions, swimming and it was a lot of non-weight bearing stuff that was boring and hard.

“I didn’t want to get to these games with niggles that would deny me the chance to play.”

McManus battled and battered the young, and much-changed, Astana back line, prepared to take the challenges from behind and run after lost causes.

But he admitted that he felt the emotional release when the ball hit the back of the net and that he was close to a childhood dream involving his boyhood Celtic.

“My favourite part of the game, for a large part, was my hold-up play because it gave the team, a platform,” he said.

“In these sorts of games it’s really difficult and our midfield sat deep, so sometimes it’s a lumped ball for me to make something of it and get the boys up.

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“Tonight, I was really good at that and it’s a huge thing for the team that takes the pressure off their defensive work.

“But obviously when the ball hit the back of the net, there’s no better feeling.

“I’ve had a dream since I was a little boy of scoring in Europe wearing Green and White, but this is as close as I’ll come so I’ll take it.”