Newport County

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County has announced the dates of two rearranged League Two fixtures.

The game against Morecambe, which was due to be played at Rodney Parade last Sunday (5 January), will now take place on Tuesday, 4 February at 19:45 GMT.

It was postponed due to small areas of the field being deemed unplayable by the match referee.

County's League Two fixture at Accrington Stanley has been moved to Tuesday, 11 March at 19:45 GMT.

The match was due to be played on Saturday, 11 January, but had to be postponed due to Accrington's progression to the third round of the FA Cup, in which they will face Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Newport will now return to action on Saturday, 18 January with a trip to Port Vale.

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Chairman Huw Jenkins says Premier League clubs want their youngsters to play for Newport County as a result of the Exiles' change of style.

Newport, who are 18th in League Two, are trying to play a more possession-based game under former Swansea City coach Nelson Jardim.

Jenkins, who was Swansea chairman as they rose from the fourth tier to the Premier League between 2004 and 2011, says Newport's "reputation within the football fraternity is slowly changing".

"Our change in football style means we now have top-flight clubs actually starting to contact us to take their players on loan," he said in a statement issued to County fans at the halfway point in the season.

"And I'm sure that with the right player additions in January, we can look forward and develop even more as the season progresses."

Jardim was named head coach last July following the departure of Graham Coughlan, with an overhaul of the playing squad seeing 17 new faces arrive during the summer transfer window.

Jenkins that meant "a tough period of transition" was inevitable, but believes Newport "should get stronger" in the second half of the season.

"Signing our players on extended contracts will also allow the club flexibility to keep our best players longer and build value within the squad, while looking for consistency and growth each season," he added.

"A core base of players is vital and will hopefully provide us with a much better chance of success going forward.

"My summary of the season so far, on and off the pitch, is very much aligned. We have done reasonably well, but we must continue to improve in all areas on and off the field."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Nelson Jardim has played down fears of a relegation fight at Newport County – and is adamant his young side are improving.

Jardim was left angry at his side's inability to turn an eye-catching first-half into a much-needed win against AFC Wimbledon in midweek.

The defeat – a third in a row – means it is just one league win in 10 for the Exiles, a run that has seen them slide towards spitting distance of League Two's bottom two.

They now welcome one of those teams - Morecambe - to Rodney Parade with Jardim fully aware of the need for a result.

But, in an impassioned defence of his tenure, the Portuguese head coach says there was always the need for patience in the project he was placed at the helm of.

Jardim succeeded Graham Coughlan in the summer with chairman Huw Jenkins orchestrating an overhaul of the playing squad, signing up a raft of young players of potential.

Confident that they can rack up the seven wins from the second-half of the season that would ensure survival, Jardim does say improvements are needed.

But he added: "It's quite clear there's a project which you can clearly see is shaping up, and it's not only for this season.

"You cannot change 17 players with 18, 19, 21-year-olds and think they can just roll over everyone. You have to be patient and we spoke about that at the beginning.

"Everyone can see this, but what you cannot say is that the team haven't improved. If you saw the team back in September, October, even November, and see the team now... if you don't agree with me then something is wrong."

County are at the halfway stage of the campaign, one that many accepted would be a testing challenge given the changes.

Further blows have come with the loss of some of the few experienced players such as the injured Aaron Wildig and fellow midfielder Bryn Morris, recently allowed to leave for Harrogate for family reasons.

Jardim has stated he wants signings to help in January, but he says he will keep faith with his rookies and his style.

He said: "We have to give them time to develop. We have to accept sometimes they don't play to the level that we want, but when you build a team with young players, we have to stick with them, stick to the plan, stick with what we've been doing.

"We have two choices: we can go the easy route blaming everyone, blaming the players; or we just do what we need to do, address things, improve them, and give them that confidence and trust they can go out there and put their talents out there for everyone to watch."

On facing Morecambe, who followed up a win over fellow strugglers Carlisle with a key victory against Tranmere, Jardim added: "It's a tough game; they just came off a massive win, and every game they are always there and competing.

"We've seen apart from some of the teams at the top, anyone can beat anyone on the day and it will be a tough game for us, but if we improve on the performance we gave in the first half and Wimbledon and we score when we have our opportunities then things will be easier for us."

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Nelson Sanca and Jac Norris have joined Briton Ferry Llansawel from Newport County on loan for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

The pair signed professional deals with the Exiles in the summer, but will spend the rest of the campaign in the Cymru Premier.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for both Jac and Nelson to gain valuable senior-level experience," said academy manager Luke Hussey.

"Briton Ferry Llansawel AFC will provide a competitive environment, which is exactly what these players need to continue their development."

Sanca has made four League Two appearances for Newport - the most recent of which came against Port Vale in September.

Norris featured three times for the senior side under Graham Coughlan last season.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County are hoping captain Shane McLoughlin has avoided a recurrence of the knee injury that has already cost him two months of the season.

McLoughlin, 27, limped off in the final stages of County's 2-1 defeat by AFC Wimbledon on Thursday night.

Head coach Nelson Jardim said the defender hyper-extended his knee – the same issue that led to his last lay-off and an injury that left the Irishman fearing the worst.

McLoughlin avoided surgery on that occasion and Jardim will now wait for assessments, hoping that his precautionary withdrawal does not turn out to be a serious blow to the player and team.

The Exiles – with just one win in ten league games – have already lost regular skipper Aaron Wildig for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

And Jardim said: "It's never good when you lose your captain; we have lost him before, we lost Aaron Wildig, so it's something we have to deal with and find solutions. We will assess and see from there."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Angry Nelson Jardim admits Newport County must be better as they threw away the chance to end the concerns over form heading into the new year.

But the Exiles boss remains confident they can make the tweaks to turn frustrations into points after a third defeat in a row.

Newport dominated Wimbledon at a frost-bitten Rodney Parade on Thursday, but paid the price for not converting chances as Johnnie Jackson's side hit them with goals against the run of play.

And admitting his anger, Jardim said: "They have just seen that - I have just spoken to [the players] and made them know and feel that I am disappointed and that they have to be better, as simple as that."

The result moved the Dons up to second, but Newport – with one league win in 10 – are now just six points off the bottom two.

They welcome 23rd placed Morecambe on Sunday (15:00 GMT) but Jardim says he remains focused on the performances.

"We have just played two teams at the top of the table," said Jardim, whose side were edged out by leaders Walsall on Sunday before this defeat, the first half of which saw County impress with a hatful of opportunities.

"If we play like that and continue to develop, we will win these games that we are dominant and create chances.

"As a coach I have to look at the performance. When you lose and you have nothing, you just lose, but that's not the case. Yes we lost and we have to know how we lost, but it's clear if we keep going like that, keep improving little things…the next half of the season we should not be looking at anything other than our performances and how we improve."

Jardim added: "We have 23 games now, we are halfway through the season with 26 points and if we are exactly the same we will finish on 52 points which will be good – but I am sure we will be better and improve."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County have extended the loan of striker Kyle Hudlin from Huddersfield Town until the end of the season.

The 24-year-old has scored four goals for the Exiles in 20 appearances, his first coming against Salford in October 2024.

Hudlin, who is one of the tallest professional football players at 6ft 9in, has also netted against Tranmere, Gillingham and Bradford.

The striker had originally signed a four-month loan deal on deadline day, but will now spend the rest of the 2024-25 season at Rodney Parade.

Hudlin will have the chance to add to his Newport goal tally on the day of his loan extension, as the Exiles host AFC Wimbledon.

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Nelson Jardim is confident Newport County will extend Kyle Hudlin's loan deal from Huddersfield Town until the end of the season.

The striker joined the Exiles from the Terriers on transfer deadline day in August on a short-term deal until January.

But head coach Jardim expects the towering frontman to remain at Rodney Parade for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.

"Everything is agreed, I don't know if the pen has been put to paper yet," he said after his side's 2-0 loss to League Two leaders Walsall.

"It's a process that is ongoing, but from my end, I made it clear that I would like to have him here.

"I think the player made it clear that he wants to be here and the clubs are talking.

"But I think everything is going in a good direction."

In addition to keeping hold of Hudlin - who has scored four goals in League Two this season - Jardim expects to bring in "one or two" additional players during the winter window.

"You can have a busy January and nothing happens," added Jardim.

"I think January, you have to be very careful and aware, you really need to know what you need and want.

"It has to be the right character, the right player and the right fit. If we don't find that, there's not going to be any changes.

"I expect one or two (signings), obviously, but busy, definitely. If anything will happen, I don't know."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Nelson Jardim says Bryn Morris' squad absence for Newport County's 2-0 loss at Walsall was not transfer related.

The midfielder is expected to attract interest in the upcoming winter window and was omitted from the Exiles' matchday squad as a brace from Nathan Lowe earned the league leaders victory.

But Jardim says he needed to manage the 28-year-old's workload following a busy schedule of late.

"Bryn we are managing," said County's head coach.

"Bryn has been playing every minute for us. He came off in the last game as well as a precaution. Noah [Mawene] is in the same situation.

"I have to have everyone fit for what's coming, which will be tough."

Jardim admits Newport will look to be active in the January window, adding that the club have to be open to all options.

"Don't forget, he [Morris] was one of the players that was injured at the beginning of the season, we are trying always to manage his effort," added Jardim.

"But in terms of moving players in and out, anything can happen in the transfer window.

"We are open to speak and discuss and see what's best for everyone."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Nelson Jardim says Newport County's long-term plan remains unchanged after the Exiles ended 2024 with back-to-back defeats.

Newport impressed for long spells against League Two leaders Walsall but were ultimately beaten 2-0 thanks to a brace from Nathan Lowe.

Defeat means Newport sit 18th going into the new year, but Jardim says his focus remains on ensuring the club grows in his first year in the job.

"When we planned the season, we wanted to see a team growing in terms of the style of play, controlling games, having more of the ball and having a comfortable season," said the Portuguese.

"We haven't changed anything from that.

"We are still chasing that comfort which we know it's a tough league, with the amount of changing of players that we had.

"We've been fighting with a lot of things but we've always been finding a way and the strength is the collective and the way we play."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Bobby Kamwa says Newport County must back themselves to achieve something in League Two this season as they look to close the gap on the play-off places.

The Exiles moved to within five points of the top seven courtesy of last weekend's thumping victory over MK Dons.

The 6-3 success – against a side in play-off contention – meant Newport ended a six-game winless streak in League Two.

There were five draws during that run, however, and forward Kamwa insists Newport can compete with anyone in the fourth tier as they prepare for a trip to Bromley on Thursday, 26 December (15:00 GMT).

"We seem to be the underdogs in this league - people don't really think we can push for the play-offs," Kamwa said.

"But we are gelling now and we are just looking to climb up the table.

"We all have to believe we can really achieve something. Looking in the league, there is not a team you would say are going to run away with the league. Anyone can beat anyone so we are just looking at that and taking it game by game."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Bobby Kamwa hopes his numbers are starting to add up after his hat-trick in Newport County's win over MK Dons.

The 24-year-old scored three times in 58 minutes as the Exiles claimed a thrilling 6-3 victory last weekend.

Kamwa, who signed on free in August after he left Burton Albion, had scored only once in 22 Newport appearances before the Dons thrashing.

Kamwa's treble means this is already the best goalscoring season of his career, with the former Leeds United youngster surpassing the three strikes he managed for Burton in 2022-23.

Now Kamwa is eyeing more success in the final third.

"I could smell in that game there would be goals and luckily I took my chances," he said.

"Stats have always been a thing for me - my end product. If it's to do with the ability, I know I can play higher up. But it's always been questions of stats, so I am happy I am starting to concentrate on end product."

Cameroon-born Kamwa has started 16 League Two games this season, and expressed his gratitude to boss Nelson Jardim.

"I want to say thank you to the gaffer for trusting me," he added.

"There are times when it hasn't come off for me but he has stuck with me. I am happy I could repay him.

"I do a lot of finishing, crossing after training. These are things I need to stick at and focus on. If I can get that right, I know what level I can play at."

Newport will look to build on the MK Dons triumph when they go to Bromley on Thursday, 26 December (15:00 GMT).