Craig Whitfield celebrates his first Welsh Premier League goal

Teenage striker Craig Whitfield has set his sights on becoming a first-choice pick for The New Saints.

The 19-year-old, who scored 47 times for Saints reserves last season, hit his first senior league goal in the 3-1 Christmas win against Welshpool.

"It was hard to step up to the first team, but the older and more experienced lads have been really helpful," he told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"Now I need to push on and get into the starting line-up on a regular basis."

Whitfield - who lives locally at Cockshutt near Ellesmere - was a schoolboy with Shrewsbury Town, but was released when he was 14.

"That was disappointing, but you just have to bounce back," he added. "I went straight into the TNS Academy, which is a good learning ground."

Whitfield is doing extra work in the gym to bulk himself out.

"I'm doing a lot of work on my upper body," he said, "because to be a forward up against big centre halves, I know I've got to get stronger."

He will also be practising how to mark his next goal.

"There was no special celebration after my first one," he said, "so perhaps I'll have to think up my own routine!"

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