A former Carlisle United striker is gunning for Champions League glory tonight - after already claiming a piece of European history.

Ex-Blues frontman Craig Curran will bid to fire Welsh champions Connah's Quay Nomads through the first qualifying round of the European elite competition.

They face a second-leg clash with Armenian side Alashkert with the tie finely poised at 2-2.

The first leg clash in Aberystwyth saw Curran open the scoring - earning him the honour of being the club's first-ever Champions League goalscorer.

The 31-year-old buried a close-range header.

The Armenians came back to lead 2-1 before a late Connah's Quay leveller.

Curran has been with Connah's Quay since January 2020 and helped them to a second successive league title last season.

He joined them after a spell with Dundee.

News and Star: Craig Curran pictured in action for Carlisle at Sheffield Wednesday in 2010 (photo: Barbara Abbott)Craig Curran pictured in action for Carlisle at Sheffield Wednesday in 2010 (photo: Barbara Abbott)

The ex-Tranmere frontman was with United from 2010-12.

He scored eight goals in 70 appearances - his most memorable strike being a superb winning goal against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Curran later played for Rochdale, Limerick, Nuneaton, Ross County, Dundee United and Dundee before his switch to Wales.

Connah's Quay boss Andy Morrison, whose side includes a former Carlisle trialist in Jamie Mullan, told NW Sport of the second leg in Armenia: “We are not going there as tourists.

“We’re in a game and now they know they’re in a game."

Tonight's winners will take on Albanian side Teuta or Moldovan outfit Sheriff Tiraspol in the second qualifying round.