BANGOR City will be hoping their revamped front-line can provide them with a return to European football.

Manager Kevin Nicholson has been extremely busy during the transfer window and has managed to pull off a number of eye-catching signings, which can give the Citizens’ faithful plenty of cause for optimism ahead of Phase Two of the JD Welsh Premier League.

The recent acquisition of Alex Darlington from The New Saints of Oswestry Town represents a real coup for the club, with the striker enjoying a trophy-laden stint with the full-timers over the course of a decade.

At 29 he is still in the prime of his career and has that little bit of quality that has been missing at the business end of the pitch for City at times during the season.

With the likes of Dean Rittenberg, Brayden Shaw, Danny Gossett and Gary Taylor-Fletcher providing the ammunition it would be a huge shock if Darlington did not continue his fine goalscoring record for his new club.

His arrival was not the only change to Nicholson’s attacking options during the window, with Yves Zama wasting no time in making his presence felt in an outstanding performance during their JD Welsh Cup success at Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant.

The pacey forward was a constant threat and he has the ability to conjure something extraordinary out of nothing, which is going to be another huge asset to have during the second half of the campaign.

James Demetriou and Anderson Cayola have left the club after flattering to deceive for much of their respective spells, but youngster George Harry can give City an injection of pace of the bench after the former Academy prospect has turned in some fearless performances that have defied his age.

While winning the league is an unlikely task with TNS so far ahead, the initial objective at the start of the season was European qualification which is more than feasible give how well they have performed on the whole so far.

With the new owners looking to progress the club to a full-time operation in the near future, the onus will be on Nicholson and his players to ensure their goals are met which will then enable them to reach the next level and perhaps go toe-to-toe with the dominant Oswestry side next term.

The young manager has a very bright future in the game and he has brought a great deal to the role, and if his new signings prove their worth then they can be sure of a hugely successful second half.