Newport County

Ioan Griffiths
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County have been boosted by the return of Kyle Cameron and Hull City loanee Matty Jacob ahead of their trip to Crewe Alexandra.

Hayden Mullins' side are 14th in the table and head to the Mornflake Stadium on Saturday, 14 November (15:00 GMT), as they hunt for their first away win of the season in League Two.

Captain Cameron has played every league minute for County so far, but missed Saturday's 3-1 win over Walsall in the first round of the FA Cup through illness.

Left-back Jacob has been equally impressed during the opening stages of the campaign, but the 25-year-old has been sidelined with a hamstring injury suffered against York City on 17 October.

"They've both been in all week and trained and are a part of the group again which is good. It's great to have Matty back, he was a very important part of the team before we lost him to injury," Mullins said.

"We're nearly back to full strength. We're still missing a few, (Matt) Dibley-Dias and Tan (Nyakuhwa) both have long-term injuries so they're not with us.

"The group have dealt with it really well to be honest, the lads are well prepared and the ones who have stepped in when needed have really helped with performances."

The Exiles are yet to taste defeat at Rodney Parade in the league this season, but have struggled on their travels thus far - drawing three and losing four of their seven games on the road - something Mullins wants to put right on Saturday against a side fourth in the division.

"You always want to try and win games of football. I think that's the one thing we set up to do as a club and as a team. We set up to try and win games and Saturday will be no different," he added.

"For us the confidence in terms of what we've been doing is very good. In the FA Cup and in the league we've scored seven goals in those two games. We're in a good place.

"It's away from home, it's always a difficult task. Crewe will be no different. They're a well-organised team, very good going forward and they play a good system.

"It'll be a tough, tough game and we hope that Saturday can go our way and we can get that first away league win out of the way."

Image source, BBC Sport

Newport County manager Hayden Mullins' main focus is maintaining their progress in League Two.

However, with the team having seized their place in the FA Cup second round in a 3-1 victory over Walsall, Newport have the potential to create more memorable moments and boost finances.

We asked Newport County fans if they would rather see Newport secure a League Two play-off place this season or enjoy another memorable, money-spinning FA Cup run.

Or can the team possibly dare to dream of achieving both?

Here is what some fans had to say:

Conrad: I think a cup run might be better for County this season - allows us to keep building towards building a good squad for the gaffer to hopefully push for play-offs next season. Although, why not be greedy and dare to dream! Let's do both!

John Davies: We are in need of both, securing our EFL status and the financial rewards of a cup run.

Mr Griffiths: FA Cup run all day, we are not ready to go up not by a long shot, get as far as we can in the FA Cup - not just this season but for as long as we can. Get the financial clout that we need, then go for promotion when we are ready.

Mike John: For the first season since I can remember I actually feel optimistic going to games. Mullins deserves full praise and hopefully with Huw [Jenkins] sorting the business the future looks promising.

Carl: It's clear they have missed their strikers. All in all the team are fairly solid in most areas having watched Saturday's game. There were a lot of errors in the game but if you think where we were last season, the team is vastly improved - a season of consolidation and move on for next season.

Newport County booked their place in the FA Cup second round with a 3-1 victory over Walsall at Rodney Parade.

Kion Etete's double, either side of Michael Adu-Poku's strike, helped County come from behind to win the first-round tie and continue their cup journey.

Hayden Mullins' primary focus will be maintaining Newport's steady progress in League Two, with the Exiles currently 14th and just two points outside the play-off places.

But the FA Cup has provided some of the club's most memorable moments in recent years, as well as valuable financial rewards through high-profile ties and prize money.

If you had to choose, would you rather see Newport secure a League Two play-off place this season or enjoy another memorable, money-spinning FA Cup run? Or can the Exiles dare to dream of achieving both?

Send us your views here.

Connor Owen
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County have been handed a fitness boost ahead of Saturday's FA Cup tie against Walsall, with defender Matty Jacob back in training.

The 25-year-old Hull City loanee impressed during the early part of the season and started every League Two game before suffering a hamstring injury against York.

"Matty Jacobs has been back training with us this week which has been really good, whether this weekend is a little bit too early for him I'm not too sure," said County boss Hayden Mullins.

Mullins was more certain about forward Michael Adu-Poku, who he said was only taken off against Chesterfield as a precaution. He also has Aaron Lewis to call upon after the midfielder managed 45 minutes in Tuesday's EFL trophy defeat to Crystal Palace U21s, but James Crole suffered another injury setback.

"He (Crole) came through the game, but had a little bit of a scare on his other ankle, so he's sort of been icing it," said Mullins.

Fulham loanee Matt Dibley-Dias and Cardiff loanee Nyakuhwa have both returned to their parent clubs for rehab, with Mullins hoping to get them back this side of Christmas.

"We hope we get them back in a matter of weeks, rather than months with all being well, and they don't get any setbacks," he said.

Ioan Griffiths
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County boss Hayden Mullins has praised teenage debutant Rocco Lenney following Tuesday's night's 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.

The 17-year-old, who is not a central midfielder by trade, started in the middle of the park before being replaced at half-time.

"He's done himself no harm. He's a really good kid, works hard, and he's got good quality at times," Mullins said.

"I thought he did well at times. He should be proud of himself and proud of his debut."

County, who are recovering from an injury crisis, opted not to start the midfielders who helped them to a 4-1 win over Chesterfield in League Two, as Ciaran Brennan, Harrison Biggins and Matt Smith appeared from the bench.

Lenney instead started alongside summer signing Aaron Lewis, who could only muster 45 minutes in his first game since returning from injury.

"He [Lewis] got through it well, which was really good, but we were always planning on getting him off at half-time," Mullins added.

"We wanted to try and change things at half-time, we put Smith and Brennan on which gave us some more experience in midfield, which they did help with."

The Exiles will look to avoid a second cup exit in a week as they welcome Walsall on Saturday, 7 November in the first round of the FA Cup.

Ioan Griffiths
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County boss Hayden Mullins says his side can take "no consolation" from their 2-1 defeat by Crystal Palace Under-21s after exiting the EFL Trophy.

The Exiles were beaten by the young Eagles at Rodney Parade, ending their unbeaten home run, after goals from Jasper Judd and David Angibeaud.

Palace will advance to the final 32 of the competition for the first time in their history, as they sit top of Southern Group E, though Plymouth have one game left.

Newport finished third with four points from three games.

"We attacked this game trying to win it. The two previous games against Swindon and Plymouth were the same," said Mullins.

"We made rotations, and we did well in the two games. Today was no different. We wanted to go through; there's no consolation.

"We found it tough at times in the first half, and we ended up getting beat, so fair play to Crystal Palace.

"We're disappointed to exit; it was a competition we wanted to stay in and try to carry on building momentum like we've done all season."

Mullins, who started his football career at Crystal Palace, also praised the visitors for their pragmatic performance against his side.

The 47-year-old made 11 changes from the side that swept aside Chesterfield 4-1 last time out and extended their home unbeaten run.

James Crole was one of those brought into the lineup, as he started for the first time since County secured survival on the final day of last season at Barrow.

The former Penybont striker bagged the equaliser for the Exiles early in the second half, to the delight of his manager.

"James has worked extremely hard to get back into good shape to really attack and give himself an opportunity to get into the team," said Mullins.

"He's come in and done really well. I'm sure he will be happy with what he's done tonight, and equally, as a club, we share that with him."

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

James Crole is determined to make up for lost time having, he hopes, finally put an injury-hit start to the season behind him.

The Newport County striker made his first appearance of the campaign in Friday's emphatic 4-1 victory over Chesterfield, marking the end of a frustrating spell on the sidelines.

Having joined from the Cymru Premier in January, Crole needed time to settle at Rodney Parade.

Limited largely to substitute appearances, he went without a goal contribution in his first 10 outings before finishing the season strongly with a goal and four assists in his final 10 matches.

That late-season form left the 22-year-old forward hopeful of playing a key role in League Two this term - but those plans were derailed when he suffered an ankle injury in only the second session of pre-season.

"It's been frustrating," said Crole.

"I finished last season fairly well and had it in my head that I'd come back, have a fresh start and kick on. Unfortunately, it didn't happen like that, but it's in the past now."

The Welshman was all smiles as he returned to action against Chesterfield, with Newport delivering one of their standout performances of the season.

"I couldn't really have asked for a better night or a better occasion," Crole added.

"For me to come on and get some minutes was brilliant and the boys were unbelievable.

"Now I'm back I just want to impress and get myself in the team."

With Crystal Palace Under-21s visiting Rodney Parade in the EFL Trophy, Crole hopes another outing can help him regain full match sharpness, while also securing Newport's progression in the cup competition.

"I need minutes," he said.

"The last game I played before Chesterfield was the final game of last season, so it's been a long time.

"I haven't really had a pre-season, so any minutes are going to help me. All I want to do is get up to speed and get myself in the team."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County welcome back forward Shaquille Gwengwe from suspension in Tuesday's EFL Trophy shoot-out against Crystal Palace Under-21s.

The 25-year-old has served a three-match suspension for an off-the-ball incident that was missed by the officials in the draw against York City.

Boss Hayden Mullins, who felt the ban was harsh, has Gwengwe available as he mulls over selection.

Newport will be mindful of the workloads for the likes of left-back Tom Davies and striker Kion Etete as they continue returns from injury, but they also want to progress to the knockout stages.

"We will be fighting on all fronts," said Mullins, whose side host Walsall in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

"We have tried to attack in all competitions and set up to win, this week will be no different."

The Exiles will qualify for the knockout stages if they avoid defeat against the young Eagles.

If it is a draw then Palace could go level on points with Newport by winning the penalty shootout, but County would have a superior goal difference.

Plymouth currently top Group E and finish at home to the already eliminated Swindon on Tuesday, 10 November.

Image source, Getty Images

Newport County manager Hayden Mullins is relishing a game against the club that gave him his big break on Tuesday.

The Exiles welcome Crystal Palace Under-21s to Rodney Parade in what is realistically a qualification shoot-out in the EFL Trophy.

Mullins will hope to get one over the Eagles, who he played for 257 times, and captained, after coming through as a trainee.

"It's the club that gave me my first break in professional football," said Mullins, who made his Palace debut as a teenager under Terry Venables in 1998.

"I will never forget Crystal Palace, they are a team that I hold close to my heart because I was captain for a number of years after coming through the youth team.

"It's a fantastic club and I only have good things to say about them."

Nonetheless, Mullins would love to extend Newport's unbeaten Rodney Parade record this season against the young Eagles.

"I know Darren Powell well having played with him and he will have them set up to be aggressive," he said.

"They will have loads of energy and these are always tricky games because under-21s come with a lot of enthusiasm.

"It's almost their cup final, I did it with Fulham and these games are ones where the young players really want to impress."

The Exiles will qualify for the knockout stages if they avoid defeat against the young Eagles.

If it is a draw then Palace could go level on points with Newport by winning the penalty shootout, but County would have a superior goal difference.

It is still possible for both sides to go through but it would require a Palace shootout victory and Plymouth suffering a heavy defeat by Swindon on Tuesday, 10 November.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Hayden Mullins is happy for Newport County to keep going under the radar as underdogs after their encouraging start to League Two.

The Exiles started 2026-27 as one of the favourites to struggle after avoiding relegation on the final day last season.

However, they have started strongly and sit 14th in a congested table, two points off the play-off spots and six clear of the drop zone.

Last Friday Newport enjoyed an eye-catching 4-1 win against much-fancied Chesterfield, but Mullins is content to go about their business quietly.

He said: "We are happy when we are the underdogs. We have our own targets in the dressing room and know what we want to try and do.

"We have played a number of good teams. Salford have been really good and they beat us in the 90th minute, Chesterfield are spoken about as promotion hopefuls, Cheltenham were third and we had 15 shots against them and they had five.

"We are who we are, and hopefully will have a promising season."

County are unbeaten at Rodney Parade in all competitions in 2026-27, profiting from a pragmatic and aggressive approach.

"It's the way that we play our game. It's a hard attacking brand to tie down because we play to our strengths," said Mullins.

"Our strengths will not always be the prettiest. We know what we are and how to hurt the opposition.

"We are a tough, strong, aggressive team that plays with really good intensity."

Newport host Crystal Palace Under-21s in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday (19:00 GMT) and entertain Walsall in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County boss Hayden Mullins said their thumping win against Chesterfield was a result that had been coming.

The Exiles extended their Rodney Parade unbeaten run with a 4-1 victory in League Two after first-half goals by Cameron Norman, Tom Davies, Harrison Biggins and Yahya Bamba.

County have now claimed 15 points from a possible 21 in Newport this season, but this was the most notable success.

"The boys got their rewards because that's something that has been coming," said Mullins.

"We have been really good at home and have missed quite a few chances when we have been on top and could have won games by bigger margins.

"The boys looked like they were enjoying themselves and others came off the bench and gave us a lift at a time when we needed it, so it was a really good squad performance."

Chesterfield manager Paul Cook was sent off at half-time after earlier being booked for his anger on the touchline.

The Spireites were frustrated by decisions – notably a handball on the line that was missed by the officials at 2-0 – but had no complaints about the result.

Assistant manager Danny Webb said: "You have to give a lot of respect to Newport – they had a game plan, started on the front foot, were aggressive and physical."

County host Crystal Palace Under-21s in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday (19:00 GMT) and face Walsall in round one of the FA Cup in Newport on Saturday, 7 November (15:00 GMT).