Declan McManus still recalls picking up the SPFL Trust Trophy in a double-winning season for Ross County.

Back in 2019, McManus and Co hoisted the trophy having denied Welsh club Connah's Quay a historic triumph.

Fast-forward and McManus is hoping to reverse the result and lead The New Saints to victory at the Falkirk Stadium.

"It's gone full circle," said McManus of the bizarre coincidental similarities in circumstance surrounding the final against Airdrie.

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"That's incredibly how football works sometimes. It was a fond memory for me, that season we won the double.

"This time it could make it a treble and hopefully a quadruple.

"It will be two very full circle memories but I think this one, doing it for a Welsh side in the Scottish cup, will make it that wee bit more special than the last time."

McManus - who progressed through the Aberdeen youth system - has plenty of history in Scotland counting seven clubs in his career statistics. The former Scotland under-21 cap lifted the Scottish League One title with Greenock Morton in 2015, tasted success with Ross County and featured for Alloa and Aberdeen before a short stint at Fleetwood in England.

And there's history for the striker at the venue too - having enjoyed a free-scoring spell with Falkirk then also bagging for Dunfermline and Raith Rovers against the Bairns.

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He explained: "I played there for Falkirk but I also scored there for rivals, Dunfermline and Raith. 

"When you look back at it, it is a place I have scored a lot of goals for and against.

"It's a ground I have always loved playing at, it's a proper football ground.

"If I can go there and score a goal to help the team win the cup then it will be a special day." 

TNS have already been crowned JD Welsh Premier champions and celebrated a Nathaniel MG Cup triumph in January. A victory this afternoon would also see the Welsh side extend their consecutive wins total to 27 - the same figure that was a world record until recently surpassed by Al-Hilal. 

But rather than fond memories in Scotland, McManus will be fuelled with sheer determination to add the third of a possible four trophies this season while also silencing any critics who questioned his move to the Welsh Premier in 2021.

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"I think for me personally there is a wee bit of added spice on it," admitted McManus of the added layers to the showpiece final.

"Anybody that bad-mouthed my decision to come down here then hopefully on Sunday we can go and win it and I can maybe justify that a wee bit. But I don't really care about them to be honest. They're just opinions.

"For me, it's a big chance to go and win a trophy that I have not yet won with TNS and obviously the added spice is there that we are Welsh and we are competing for a Scottish trophy."

On whether his doubters ought to have already eaten their words given a remarkable 77-goal haul in 96 appearances for TNS and European qualifying top goalscorer accolade in 2021, McManus joked:

"There's probably still some out there that didn't like me in my time in Scotland and will just pick holes in anything!"

"It was a big move and a big choice," he continued. "I know it is only four hours away but when you have got kids and a wife it's a big choice. When it came up I knew straight away it was something I wanted to try.

"The first time I scored in Europe it was surreal. That particular season I ended up as top scorer in qualifying so that was a mental start to my career down here. 

"I scored a hat-trick against a club [Viktoria Plzen] that was light years ahead of us in terms of size and finances. I remember before the game doing an interview and nobody had us even scoring a goal.

"I've done well personally but as a collective, we have managed to win a lot of trophies and hopefully we can go and add to that."