ADAM BARTON believes Connah’s Quay Nomads could compete in the Scottish Premiership - and he wants to win the Challenge Cup to prove it.

Barton has been impressed by what he’s seen from his new team-mates after joining Nomads on transfer deadline day from Scottish Championship outfit Dundee United.

And having spent time playing in the Scottish top-flight with Partick Thistle, Barton reckons Nomads could hold their own against the majority of the division.

“In Scotland you have the likes of Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen who are a level above anyone else, but apart from that it’s about who performs on the day,” he said.

“You could chuck Nomads in, even the SPL. They beat Falkirk.

“The standard is very similar to the Welsh Premier League I would say.”

On how he’s found life in the top-tier of Welsh football compared to north of the border, Barton continued: “The only thing that affects the standard is the pitch, which isn’t the greatest and we know that.

“I see in training that there are players with talent, but it gets ruined by pitches and the weather.

“But it’s been good, it’s a new challenge for me and I didn’t know what to expect really.

“I came here with an open mind and the lads and the staff have been brilliant, so it’s made it a lot easier to settle in.

“The move came up very early on and I didn’t want to jump into anything, no matter what it was, I wanted to weigh up my options.”

Barton has played two, won two in the Welsh Premier League, helping Nomads return to the top of the table, but attentions now turn to the visit of Edinburgh City in the Scottish Challenge Cup semi-finals on Saturday night (7.25pm).

Asked whether the competition was of much importance in Scotland, Barton, who scored in last week’s 6-2 success over Caernarfon, said: “I don’t think it’s a major competition, not since I’ve been up there any way.

“But it’s something to win and you don’t want to lose games.

“You don’t go into any game thinking ‘we will play half-hearted’ you just don’t do that, especially teams that want to win things.

“Every single game is important.

“I’ve got a friend who I speak to in Scotland that knows a few of the Edinburgh players.

“They are not a big club so getting further and further into these cup competitions is massive for them - the same as it is for us.

“It should be a good game and a good test for us.”

Nomads are looking to become the first Welsh team to reach the final of the competition since sides from outside Scotland were invited to participate two seasons ago.

“To achieve that alone would be fantastic,” said Barton. “We won’t look back, we will go for the win like we do in every game we play.”

Admission to Saturday’s match, in line with competition rules, is £10 for adults and £5 for concessions.