Newport County

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Injuries are beginning to take a toll on League Two side Newport County, with Tanatswa Nyakuhwa and Matty Jacob the latest names added to a growing casualty list.

Striker Christian Doidge and midfielder Aaron Lewis both picked up groin injuries ahead of Newport's 1-1 draw with York City, while Harri Pugh and Keenan Patten also remain sidelined.

With a big squad, manager Hayden Mullins feels for now Newport have the squad depth to survive the crisis but admits Jacob's absence will be keenly felt.

The Hull City loanee, who arrived on deadline day, has started every League Two game since his arrival before being forced off with a hamstring strain against York.

Alongside helping shore up Newport's defence, he has also posed a threat going forward and contributed two assists in seven appearances.

"Matty's done really well," said Mullins.

"He's a player who has shown he wants to come and play games. He recognised he needed to play, came down here and backed himself.

"He's got a couple of assists and looked really good in the games. He will definitely be a miss, but it opens the door for someone else."

That player could well be Tom Davies, who is fit again after recovering from an injury that has kept him out of the team since Newport's 5-3 derby defeat to Bristol Rovers.

But both Joe Thomas and Alfie Merritt also remain options for Mullins, both of whom started in south Yorkshire earlier this week.

"Tom [Davies] is fit now, Alfie Merritt's around and JT [Joe Thomas] can fill that position," Mullins added.

"We've got a number of players that can help while he's not here [for three or four weeks], but Matty's done really well while he's been in the team."

There was, however, some positive news on the injury front, with James Crole and Moses Walker-Alexander both back in training.

Doidge and Lewis have also returned to the grass but are still several weeks away from contention, while Nyakuhwa is awaiting a scan to determine the extent of his injury.

"We're getting there, but we're taking a bit of a knock at the moment," said Mullins.

"We're stretched and that's why when the Shaq [Gwengwe] one came through it was a little bit more of a blow."

With Newport now facing a testing spell, Mullins has challenged those on the fringes of the squad to take their opportunities.

"I've got no worries about putting players in. If a space opens up, they'll get the opportunity because they've shown they're ready to go.

"It's hard to leave people out because the lads who've got the shirt have done really well, but it's pleasing to see others come in and show us they're ready.

"We're getting lads who need to step up, stepping up at the moment and that's really helping us."

Newport travel across the River Severn to face Cheltenham Town on Saturday 24 October where they will be hoping for their first league away win.

Though a fourth consecutive draw on the road would still extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches in all competitions.

Ian Mitchelmore
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Jez Tighe/ProSports/Shutterstock

With 12 minutes on the clock at AESSEAL New York Stadium, Newport County appeared destined to endure a torrid night after Paul Mullin and Aaron Nemane netted early goals for Rotherham United.

But, according to goalscorer Harrison Biggins, Newport were ultimately left disappointed not to leave South Yorkshire with all three points as they claimed a hard-earned draw against Alex Bruce's side.

The point ensured Newport extended their unbeaten league run to seven matches, their best sequence since achieving the same record midway through the 2023-24 season.

It was also the first time the Exiles have come from two goals behind to claim a point since doing so against Wimbledon in December 2024, when Michael Spellman and Shane McLoughlin struck to secure a 2-2 draw.

They were without top scorer Shaquille Gwengwe at Rotherham as the striker was serving the first part of a three-game ban after admitting to a charge of violent conduct.

Christian Doidge, Matty Jacob and Tanatswa Nyakuhwa were also absent against the Millers, with Hayden Mullins acknowledging after the match that injuries are starting to bite.

But the resilience and fighting spirit instilled in the squad by Mullins and his coaching staff was once again evident in Rotherham.

The fact they have come from behind to earn a draw on three occasions already this season indicates that the current squad will not let heads drop amid adversity.

Newport are 12th in the table having gained 15 points from their opening 12 league games under Mullins.

They have seven more points than they did at the same stage last season, when they were 23rd.

County have scored five more goals this time around and have conceded six fewer, which are further markers of the team's improvement under Mullins.

Sticky spells will no doubt come this season, particularly if the injury situation worsens.

But the Rotherham draw helped to underline the progress County are making under Mullins - which at this time last year may have seemed unthinkable for the Newport faithful.

Hayden Mullins declared himself happy with a point after Newport County came from 2-0 down to draw at Rotherham United on Tuesday.

Listen to Exiles boss Mullins' post-match interview with BBC Sport Wales.

Image source, Jez Tighe/ProSports/Shutterstock

Harrison Biggins says boss Hayden Mullins has been a key driver behind Newport County's improved form this season.

The Exiles stretched their unbeaten league run to seven matches by coming from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Rotherham United at AESSEAL New York Stadium on Tuesday.

Biggins - who netted his third goal of the campaign from the penalty spot against the Millers - says the fact Newport were disappointed not to beat Alex Bruce's side shows the progress they have made under Mullins.

"We've just gone back in the dressing room and had a little debrief and I think we're actually disappointed that we didn't come away with all three points, which says everything to be honest," he told BBC Sport Wales.

"But we've got another point on the road and it's something to build on again."

Newport's impressive unbeaten run came under severe threat as Paul Mullin's penalty and an Aaron Nemane strike put Rotherham 2-0 up inside 12 minutes in South Yorkshire.

But Biggins and Ged Garner found the target to ensure Newport returned to south Wales with a point.

"We've got great belief in there between everyone," Biggins said of the Newport dressing room.

"We need to go and keep building on that, not get carried away, keep our feet grounded and keep pushing."

On Mullins, the 30-year-old said: "He's really calm in there. He gives us the confidence that we need to go out there and express ourselves.

"We know we've got his back, to work for him and work for each other and that's what you need.

"As a group of players and a group of staff that are in there, we're all so together. That just comes from the gaffer and the confidence that he gives us all."

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Hayden Mullins believes there is plenty to be positive about as Newport County aim to extend their unbeaten run to nine games at Rotherham United on Tuesday (19:45 BST).

Just three days after battling back to earn a 1-1 draw against 10-man York City, the Exiles are back in League Two action against a struggling Millers side.

Rotherham are without a win in six games across all competitions and sit in the relegation zone – a place that was all too familiar to Newport last season.

However, County are full of confidence after 11 games, and are looking to extend their league unbeaten run to seven matches.

A first league win on the road this season would move County into the play-off places ahead of a trip to Cheltenham Town on Saturday, 24 October.

Away from home, a switch to a back five has brought greater stability and resilience, helping the Exiles grind out results as of late.

"Our shape is good," said Mullins. "I'm happy with it. I'm happy with the players and how they've taken on board all the information.

"For us as staff and me as a manager, it feels good. It looks good. There's loads of positive points to build on.

"The group is a really good group to work with. We're eight games unbeaten, and we're looking forward to Tuesday's game."

With centre-forward Christian Doidge absent through injury, others will need to step up, and Kion Etete did exactly that at the weekend.

By scoring with his first County touch, Etete sealed a point against York, while Tanatswa Nyakuhwa has looked determined to make an impact this season.

Mullins does not anticipate that Etete will be ready to start on Tuesday evening, with his cameo on the weekend being his first competitive minutes since March.

Newport's tough-to-beat mentality has been a feature of their recent run, often leading to fiercely contested encounters, and Mullins expects Rotherham to be no different.

"We play wholeheartedly. There were a lot of tackles flying around, and there normally are when we play. There's a lot going on.

"I'm really happy with our group and where we are as a club and as a football team. There's loads and loads of positives. Long may it continue."

Image source, PA Media

Newport County have been drawn at home to Walsall in the First Round proper of the FA Cup.

Hayden Mullins' men will host their League Two rivals at Rodney Parade on the weekend of 6/7/8 November.

County reached the second round last season, losing to National League side Boreham Wood.

Newport County Striker Kion Etete on rescuing a draw against York, and ending his long goal drought.

Emile Nuh
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

When Newport County announced in June they had re-signed defender Cameron Norman ahead of the 2026-27 season, it created more than a ripple of excitement among the Exiles' faithful.

During his first spell with the Exiles Norman made 92 appearances, scored six goals and provided 10 assists across two stellar campaigns that saw him earn consecutive Player-of-the-Year awards in 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Now, the 31-year-old is again pivotal for County, starting every league game for Hayden Mullins' side so far, who sit just two points off the play-off places and six clear of the bottom two heading into Saturday's encounter with York City.

When asked about whether he had any doubts about returning to Rodney Parade, Norman said: "Not really, to be honest. When it was first presented, I liked the sound of it [because] football circumstances took me away in the first place.

"I was also quite keen to help turn the fortunes around from where the club had been over the past couple of seasons, so I'm really happy that I made the decision [to come back].

"I loved it the first time I was here and had lots of special memories. It's funny because I almost remember more faces from the fans than I do on the football side, so it's great seeing familiar faces that turn up every week and we love playing in front of them."

County's home form shows that, unbeaten at Rodney Parade in five league games and victory on the weekend would mark a third-straight win in NP19 for the Exiles.

"Everybody knows home form is massive, that's your advantage every other week," said Norman.

"Going back to last Saturday against Colchester, Rodney drove us on for that last 10 to 15 minutes once we got the goal.

"And then going back to Grimsby, again, we were maybe holding on towards that last five to 10 minutes. But every single time there was a positive action, you got that response and the boys just felt backed.

"We've had some really good days there so far this season, and hopefully on Saturday we can have another one."

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Hayden Mullins has confirmed striker Christian Doidge will miss Newport's home clash with York City on Saturday, 17 October (15:00) after suffering a groin injury.

Doidge was forced off after just nine minutes in Newport's 1-0 win over Colchester United last Saturday, and is expected to miss "a couple of weeks" of action.

The 34-year-old, who is waiting to receive a scan of the injury, has been a key figure for the Exiles this season, contributing to four of Newport's 13 League Two goals.

"It will be a blow, definitely. Christian will definitely be a miss to us," Mullins said of Doidge's injury

"I think he brings a lot of experience, a lot of know-how to our game and how we play.

"He came off early in the game, so he's suffering from a groin issue. It'll be a couple of weeks on the sideline. He's going for a scan to see what the fallout is from it."

Despite losing Doidge, Mullins is confident County have enough depth to cope with his absence, particularly now Cardiff loanee Kion Etete is available for selection.

"We've got Shaq [Gwengwe] in the team; we've got Ged Garner, who we can play as a nine. We've got Kion [Etete], who's been with us this week as well.

"We've got options, which is good. It's about someone else stepping up and being that focal point for us, bringing their game and imposing themselves on Saturday."

Newport will also be boosted by the return of full-back Joe Thomas, who is available again after recovering from the dead leg he suffered against Plymouth.

But James Crole remains sidelined, although the forward has returned to the grass as he steps up his injury recovery.

Newport County boss Hayden Mullins believes his players should be full of confidence ahead of hosting York City after seven games without defeat.

Image source, BBC Sport

Newport County are unbeaten in seven games in all competitions following their 1-0 win over Colchester United at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

Tanatswa Nyakuhwa's late winner made it five games without defeat as the Exiles climbed into the top half of League Two.

After 10 games, Hayden Mullins' side sit two points outside the play-off places and are six clear of the bottom two.

Here is what supporters have made of Newport's start to the campaign.

Carl: So far, so good and beyond my personal expectation of the season. Hayden Mullins is going about his business quietly, you can see the team development and all playing as one.

RGK: It was great to grind out a win against Colchester, a game we would have lost last season and the season before. The defence has been tightened up and we're not leaking goals at the moment, which is very encouraging. It's early days, the signs look positive.

Paul: It's too early in the season to get carried away. Top half in the league would be a fantastic season for me. Onwards and upwards.

Ade: At the moment we look like a team. Playing football that we are capable of playing with full commitment. Credit to the management for that. I feel optimistic at the minute but remember, it's football.

Kevin: If you're comparing the start off this season to last season we have a lot to be happy about. It's only 10 or so games in and if we pick up a lot of injuries between now and Christmas we could be looking over our shoulders, but apart from that very, very happy with it so far.

Image source, BBC Sport

With almost a quarter of the season played Hayden Mullins has guided Newport County to within two points of the League Two play-off spots.

Saturday's 1-0 win over Colchester United was the Exiles' third of the season. It is all a far cry from recent campaigns dogged by relegation fears.

So how optimistic are you that Newport can cement their progress?

Send us your views here.