Baker enjoying Newport return

Matt Baker admitted it felt “weird” to score against the club which nurtured his early steps in professional football.

But the defender, 21, seems to relish returning back to his home in the garden of England.

Baker’s clinical strike put Newport on their way to Tuesday’s fine 2-0 League Two win at Gillingham, where the Wales Under-21 cap spent 10 years as a youngster.

The former Stoke player said: “It was a good feeling, it's my old club so a weird feeling to score.

“But to go one up and take the second with Kyle Hudlin’s goal and stick in the game until the final whistle, I thought we did really well.”

Baker, who had two loan spells at Newport before joining permanently in June, was on the Gillingham books from 2011 to 2021. He paid tribute to the upbringing he had with Kent’s only Football League club.

“I think the 10 years I was here I really enjoyed it. The staff who coached me and the players I met here made me the player who I am today. I am only grateful for what the Gills have done for me," he added.

He certainly enjoys returning. Baker has now played for Newport three times at the Priestfield Stadium – and has returned to Wales with a victory every time.

Baker’s fierce, rising shot from a Bobby Kamwa free-kick was the versatile defender’s third goal of the campaign, but his roots meant a dilemma when the ball had gone in the net.

Asked if he celebrated, Baker said: “I was in between celebrating and not celebrating. I have a lot of respect for the club, but I am a Newport player at the end of the day, so to score it’s hard not to celebrate.”

The goal and victory improved a mixed couple of weeks for Baker, who qualifies for Wales through his mother who was born in Narberth.

He was part of the Wales Under-21 squad whose hopes of making their first tournament finals were undone by defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic.

The 2-1 defeat was also hampered by an administrative error by the Football Association of Wales which ensured Matty Jones' side did not have a clutch of players available to them for the key qualifier.

Because of international duty head coach Nelson Jardim opted to side line Baker, who watched as Newport crashed 3-0 at home to Chesterfield last Friday.

“It's been a busy few weeks, disappointing with the under-21s, but to come back in straight away after Friday, you have to be straight at it and I think myself and the whole team, fought really hard for that win (at Gillingham).”

Baker, who can also play in midfield, has now moved up to second in the Newport goal scoring charts having netted three league goals.

He is now on a par with Huddersfield loanee Kyle Hudlin - who also netted against Gillingham - and is one behind skipper Aaron Wildig.

“The first two seasons I did not have one goal," Baker said.

"I said to myself I need to get on the score sheet more. Now three goals in eight league games this season is good going. I want to keep it up and keep scoring for the team.”