RYAN Brobbel has created more goals this season than World Cup winner Lionel Messi.

New figures released by website transfermarkt shows the TNS forward has created 28 goals this season, the third highest across all the top divisions in Europe.

Remarkably he has made six more goals than Brazilian Neymar and eight more than Argentinian star Messi and his record is only bettered by Rayan Phillipe of Luxembourgian side Swift Hesperange and Manchester City Erling Haaland.

The 29 year old said: “Obviously it is nice to be mentioned alongside players like that.

“I just aim to keep it going and help score and create as many goals as I can between now and the end of the season.”

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Coach Craig Harrison also praised the forward for his impact this season with his latest contribution, a hat-trick at Cwmbran Celtic on Saturday, sealing a place in the semi-finals of the JD Welsh Cup.

Harrison said: “It is fantastic to see Ryan getting recognition like that. He has scored 15 or 16 in all competitions this season and I have high expectations for him.”

Brobbel will once again be a key player when the Saints start their championship conference campaign at Cardiff Met on Saturday with the Oswestry side still unbeaten this season.

“It is always a tough place to go,” said Harrison. “We won down there earlier in the season but we know we can expect another difficult game.”

Meanwhile Harrison insisted the hunger remained in the group despite a cakewalk of a campaign so far with the Oswestry club runaway league leaders.

“Games are always tough, training is always tough and expectations are always high,” said Harrison. “As professionals we want to win every game and are not just looking at keeping this run going until we mathematically win the title.

“We have scored the most goals in the first phase of the season since the league adopted this format and we want to keep building on that in the championship conference.”

Harrison ruled forward Declan McManus out of the weekend trip south having been replaced early last weekend due to injury while Ash Baker and Josh Pask remain short of match fitness.

However he insisted the squad was strong enough having not strengthened during the January window.

“We have high competition for places in the squad and 20 players training and ready to go at the moment which hands me a few problems for the weekend,” said Harrison.

 

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