Newport County manager David Hughes says his side must embrace the challenge of facing promotion favourites MK Dons at Rodney Parade on Saturday, and believes the game provides another valuable opportunity for his young squad to test themselves.
The Exiles welcome MK Dons to South Wales for a 12:30pm kick-off, and Hughes is relishing the occasion. Hughes confirmed that his squad has come through a busy run of fixtures with only a few minor knocks, which is to be expected during such a congested period of games.
“We’ve got a couple of little bumps and bruises, which is natural when you’ve had such a volume of matches at this stage of the season. There are a few we’ll review this morning to be absolutely sure, but there’s nothing that wasn’t anticipated. The lads have put so much into their performances, so it’s bound to take a toll, but overall, we’re in a good place.”
There was also a positive update on the return of Jaden Warner, who has recently stepped up his recovery. “Jaden’s been back in training and over the next 10 days we’ll look to get him some minutes. That’s a real positive for us because he was having such a strong pre-season before picking up the injury. It’s unfortunate that it set him back, but he’s worked really hard and we’re excited to have him back in the mix.”
Forward Ged Garner will also be assessed after taking part in training, with Hughes making clear that the club takes a cautious approach when deciding availability.
The manager reiterated that the club is still working hard behind the scenes to strengthen the squad further. “We’re looking to bring in a couple of additions through the spine of the team, areas that we feel would really benefit from support. It’s not always straightforward – players often have three or four opportunities and it takes time for them to commit. But we are very clear about the profile of player we want. That’s not just about ability, it’s about character, personality, and how they can add something different to what we already have. We’ve been patient, but we are working every single day to try and get the right players through the door.”
Attention now turns to Saturday’s opponents, and Hughes is under no illusions about the size of the challenge his side faces against an MK Dons team packed with experience and talent. “We’re expecting a really tough game. They’ve signed players directly from the Championship, and that in itself tells you everything about where they want to be. They clearly have a plan and ambition to climb quickly, and they’ve invested to give themselves the best possible chance. Our job tomorrow is to make that as difficult as possible, to try and disrupt that plan and impose ourselves on the game.”
But the Exiles boss believes the occasion should be viewed positively by his squad, especially the younger players who will be eager to measure themselves against proven Championship-quality opposition. “What a great test for our boys. For the younger lads, it’s a fantastic opportunity to go and show what they can do against players who’ve competed at the higher level. They’ve been positive in their performances, they’ve shown great belief and application, and this is another chance for them to learn and grow. If you’re a young player, you need someone to give you belief and opportunity – and that’s what we’re providing here. Challenge provides opportunity, and that’s exactly what tomorrow is.”
Hughes was keen to stress that despite recent results, he has been very encouraged by the level of performance from his side. “Tuesday night was another game decided by fine margins, and those margins didn’t go for us. But when I look back, I cannot and will not criticise the effort, the application or the way the players have tried to perform. That has been consistent in every game we’ve played so far. Performances have been positive, and if we maintain those levels, the results will start to turn our way.”
The manager also highlighted the important role that Newport supporters will play at Rodney Parade, particularly with the match being broadcast live across the country via Sky Sports Plus. “The fans have been outstanding. They’ve really got behind the team at every opportunity, whether it’s been against Notts County, at Grimsby, against Millwall, or again on Tuesday. They can see the players are giving everything, and that connection has been clear. Historically, Rodney Parade has been a really tough place for visiting teams and we want to make sure it becomes that again. With the fans behind us, I know it can be.”