Newport County’s manager, Hayden Mullins, expressed his eagerness to kick off the season ahead of Saturday’s opening match against AFC Wimbledon. Having led only two training sessions and a pair of friendly matches since his appointment, he will take his team to Plough Lane for the first round of the EFL Cup at 15:00 BST.

“I know it’ll be a tough game against good opposition. I know [Wimbledon boss] Jonnie Jackson and how he sets his teams up,” Mullins remarked. “But if we approach it with the same mentality as we showed against Roma, then we should be able to give them a good game.”

Last season, Wimbledon finished 19th in League One, and Mullins anticipates a challenging match. “They’re playing at home, and the fans’ expectations will be high,” he noted. “They expect to get a good result, so hopefully we can go there and put a spanner in what he’s thinking.”

New club captain Kyle Cameron shared Mullins’ sentiments. “I know from playing against them before that they’re well-drilled. It’s going to be a tough test and a good marker of where we’re at.”

However, Cameron, who joined the Exiles just six weeks ago, remains optimistic about County’s chances for an upset. “We are creating chances and causing teams problems,” he stated. “If you can do that against a side like Roma, you’d like to think we can take that confidence into Saturday as well. The fighting performances are what we’re going to need, and hopefully we’ll be on the end of a good result.”

Mullins also revealed that Newport is close to announcing another signing, who may have already played for County during pre-season. Teenage defender Alfie Merritt from AFC Bournemouth participated in Tuesday’s 4-1 pre-season loss to the Italian side. “I think we’re in the process of doing one of those,” confirmed the manager. “And we’re still looking for another couple of players as well.”

Newport County boss Hayden Mullins says he cannot wait to get started before Saturday’s first competitive game against AFC Wimbledon.

Having overseen just two training sessions and two friendly matches since being appointed, the former Fulham Under-21 head coach takes his side to Plough Lane for the first round of the EFL Cup (15:00 BST).

Advertisement

“I know it’ll be a tough game against good opposition. I know [Wimbledon boss] Jonnie Jackson and how he sets his teams up,” said Mullins.

“But if we approach it with the same mentality as we showed against Roma, then we should be able to give them a good game.”

The Dons finished 19th in League One last season and Mullins says he expects “a real tough game”.

“They’re playing at home, the fans’ expectations will be high,” he added.

“They expect to get a good result so hopefully we can go there and put a spanner in what he’s thinking.”

Advertisement

New club captain Kyle Cameron echoed his manager’s thoughts.

“I know from playing against them before that they’re well-drilled. It’s going to be a tough test and good marker of where we’re at.”

But Cameron, who himself only joined the Exiles six weeks ago, is optimistic for County’s potential of an upset.

“We are creating chances and causing teams problems,” he said.

“If you can do that against a side like Roma, you’d like to think we can take that confidence into Saturday as well.

“The fighting performances are what we’re going to need and hopefully we’ll be on the end of a good result.”

Advertisement

Mullins, meanwhile, has revealed that Newport are closing in on another signing, who perhaps has already appeared for County this pre-season.

Teenage AFC Bournemouth defender Alfie Merritt featured for the Exiles in Tuesday’s 4-1 pre-season defeat by the Italian side.

“I think we’re in the process of doing one of those,” confirmed the manager.

“And we’re still looking for another couple of players as well.”