Hayden Mullins spoke to the media ahead of Newport County’s Emirates FA Cup First Round tie against Walsall at Rodney Parade, discussing the importance of the competition, his own FA Cup experiences, squad availability and the challenge awaiting the Exiles.
County welcome Walsall to Rodney Parade on Saturday as they look to secure their place in the Second Round Proper and continue their FA Cup campaign.
Mullins knows the significance a successful cup run can have for a football club, highlighting the excitement, exposure and opportunities that the competition can bring.
“For any football club, I think a really good run in the FA Cup is always healthy. There's a lot of excitement if you draw a big team at home and obviously we know the revenue that it generates for the football club.
“Also the eyes on the players as well. The players have been doing, in my opinion, really well this season up until this point, so a really good cup run could get you really good exposure nationally, not just in your own division.”
The County manager also reflected on his own experiences in the competition as a player, having reached two FA Cup finals during his career.
Mullins was part of the West Ham United side that reached the 2006 final against Liverpool, before featuring in Portsmouth's 2010 final against Chelsea.
He believes those experiences have given him a strong appreciation of what the competition can offer, both for individuals and football clubs.
“It's a fantastic competition. I know first-hand what this competition can do for your club and for you personally as well. Fantastic memories of this competition.”
Despite the excitement surrounding the FA Cup, Mullins was quick to stress that County will not underestimate Saturday's opponents, with Walsall enjoying a strong campaign themselves.
“Without looking past Walsall, because we know what a tough test it will be, we show them the respect they deserve. They're a good side.
“We've got a tough, tough afternoon against Walsall, who are doing really well in the league themselves. Hopefully we can come through it positively.”
Mullins also provided an update on squad availability, confirming that County are gradually moving closer to having a fully fit squad.
Aaron Lewis has returned to the group after featuring for 45 minutes, while James Crole has also come through his recent return to action. Matty Jacob has returned to training, although the manager remained unsure whether Saturday would come too soon for him.
Shaquille Gwengwe is available again following his suspension, while Harrison Pugh, Mo and Christian Doidge continue to recover from injuries. Keenan Patten remains a long-term absentee.
Looking back at County's recent home performances, Mullins highlighted the first-half display against Chesterfield as an example of what his side can produce at Rodney Parade.
“The first half against Chesterfield was probably the best first half of football I've seen for a while. We were very clinical, I thought we started at a very good tempo, a very good pace, and against a very, very good team we did well.
“So we'll be asking for more of the same from the group, and the group now understand and can see what rewards they can gain from their start and their hard work.”
With a place in the Second Round Proper up for grabs, Mullins is confident his players will be ready for the challenge as County look to make the most of their opportunity in one of football's most historic competitions.
“We're ready to go Saturday. It's a fantastic competition, and one we're looking to try and progress in.”