For Jordan Marshall, playing in the SPFL Trust Trophy is nothing new. Having spent his entire professional career in Scotland the former Queen of the South and Dundee full-back is well acquainted with the cup competition.

However, having been knocked out in the semi-final twice, perhaps the moment had passed for Marshall, 27, to taste success in the tournament. That was until he made the unexpected switch to TNS where he's now in preparation for a showpiece final against Airdrie on Sunday.

Even Marshall, though, was surprised to find himself at Oswestry after being "let down" in the summer and finding himself without a club heading into October after leaving Dundee.

But rather than being bitter over a challenging time as a free agent - which included training on his own and then facing a three-month wait to be registered at TNS due to eligibility rules - Marshall is determined to prove any doubters wrong as he returns to Scotland.

"We've probably got something to prove, like me as well," said Marshall on representing himself, TNS and Welsh football as a whole in the final at Falkirk Stadium.

"A lot of people probably seen me signing at TNS and probably thought it was a bit of a weird one.

"In the summer I was probably let down by a few people but there is no loyalty in football so I've ended up down here and I am enjoying it.

"It's something different and people who don't really know a lot about the league and TNS, this is where you can really showcase it.

"I wasn't expecting to come down here. Certain things were supposed to be happening and nothing ever came of it.

"People who I probably thought better of...I'm not going to be bitter about it but it didn't work out for me in the summer.

"It was getting late and I basically got a message off the assistant manager and it happened quite quickly to be honest."

Marshall - who played at Carlisle United as a youngster - does boast a Scottish Championship winners medal from his time at Dundee and he also featured as Dundee won the play-offs in 2021.

However, the Challenge Cup trophy always escaped him.

That's something he is out to correct as TNS bid to become the first club from outside of Scotland to triumph in the tournament - Connah's Quay previously made the final but lost to Ross County.

"It would always be nice to be the first team to do something," said Marshall of the shot to write his name in the history books as part of a winning TNS squad. "We've not spoken about that much but obviously that is a big factor.

"In my time in Scotland I think there has only been one team not from Scotland that made it to the final. Hopefully, we can go one better and win it.

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"I won in the play-offs a few years ago then the Championship, it's [SPFL Trust Trophy] probably the only one missing from my time in Scotland - other than the major cups."

Marshall's return to Scotland so soon - he also played in the semi-final against Falkirk - is more of a homecoming than away day - and he'll encounter some familiar faces in the opposition line-up.

On heading back north, Marshall grinned: "I don't mind it to be fair because it is all I know really, I was there for my full professional career!

"When I went back up it was a bit like I was going home. It was weird, even just hearing the accent again.

"It's like a goldfish bowl in Scotland so you play against each other four times a year so you get to know - even if you don't know someone personally you play against them loads.

"In Scotland, you know everyone so it'll be good to go up against them.

"I know a couple [of Airdrie players], [Nikolay]Todorov and Dycey [Callum Fordyce] they were at Queen of the South when I was there.

"Frizz [Adam Frizzell] was there as well. They were both on loan, Toddy and Frizz.

"And I know Dycey quite well, I played with him for two years.

"But I haven't played much against Airdrie, I think I've only played them once or twice.

"They played us in the Scottish Cup last year but I was injured. They looked a really good team and obviously, they went and got promoted. They're obviously doing something right."

Vast experience in Scotland will ensure Marshall has no shock at the standards in the final - but the left-sided player was slighted surprised at the levels at TNS - which he compared to that at Dens Park.

"Watching from the side and the games I've been involved in has been a good standard. It probably has surprised me a little bit," said the defender who is eagerly anticipating playing in Champions League qualifying next season.

"I was surprised with the standard of the team when I came down. It's similar to what I was used to at Dundee.

"I came down here with an open mind - the big appeal was playing in Europe.

"We've won the league so in the summer we will have the first round qualifier for the Champions League which is exciting for me."