County stopper Jordan Wright has spoken of the pinch of real-life reality that whisks him away from the crippling responsibility of helping to lever his Exiles off the League Two trap door.
Newport have been nailed to the floor of their section since mid-October, but any anxiety that thought carries is hoofed into the long grass when the former Grimsby custodian becomes Santa Claus in the Children's Ward at Caerleon's Grange University Hospital this week - alongside the rest of the Exiles squad, carry sacks of soccer goodies to create smiles for the kids.
Stoke-born Wright is, with Kiwi international gloveman Nik Tzanev, rated as one of finest keepers outside the Championship - at 26 years, his best seasons are ahead of him.
The ex-Lincoln man should make his 82nd professional appearance at Colchester on Saturday in a crucial league fixture for County, but his attention is fixed on the stricken children at hospices this Yuletide beforehand.
He reflected, "As a pro footballer I have probably the best job in the world. That is something I have never taken for granted. I think it's important to put something back into the community because this is where our fans are, these are the people who find money to come and watch our matches.
"I love making people's Christmas. To make a kid's day by visiting the ones that are poorly in hospital and spending five to 10 minutes with them is not too much to ask is it? It is something I have been hugely looking forward to more than I can say."
Wright has come through the school of hard knocks, of course - leant out into a numerous stops outside the Football League by his initial club Nottingham Forest in the six years he turned professional at the City Ground - unable to break past talent like Stephen Henderson, Costel Pantilimon and that master craftsmen, French international Brice Samba.
It makes Wright all the more determined to hang onto his County shirt, saying, "Every day I go out there and try and show the gaffer my ability. It's hard, because Nik and Shaun MacDonald are good lads too. But you need to look after your own career."
And Wright is hellbent on ensuring that continues with Newport in the fourth tier next season - insisting new manager Christian Fuchs will be a decisive factor in that ambition being realised.
He said, "The gaffer has done it at the highest level [with Leicester City and Austria]. He is setting us standards on and off the pitch and expects us to set our own high goals.
" I think the gaffer has been really good for me in that he is giving me more responsibility in a match situation. He has encouraged me to switch play and set up quick counter-attacks, if it's on.
"He also tells me to slow things down, when the need arises."
County have managed two draws - against Barrow and Crewe - in their last three league games and Wright said, "Obviously the Christmas period is an opportunity for us to string a few wins or more draws together.
"It's about building a snowball and achieving momentum, football has always been about that."
Newport look for their first league win at Rodney Parade in 286 days when Barnet visit on Boxing Day, a home clash with Crewe follows that three days later, another home date against Tranmere is on January 4, with a trip to high-flyers Bromley on New Year's Day.
Observed Wright, "I believe we showed for the opening 43 minutes against Fleetwood recently - a 2-0 home defeat - that there is not a lot between the sides in League Two. On the day, anybody can been anybody.
"What we have to do now is to keep battling and show everyone we can achieve consistency. If we can do this we can go into the January fixtures with great momentum. "
