It has been a couple of weeks since returning to Newport, and Kieron Evans has quickly settled back into life at Rodney Parade.
It’s been really good. Been pretty plain sailing really. Good to be back and see all the lads. I obviously knew a few of them before and the new lads have been brilliant as well, so I’m really happy to be back.
Returning to his hometown club was always Evans’ priority when the opportunity arose over the summer.
Over that summer my main target was to come back home and I think Newport was my main priority. But yeah, I just wanted to come back and play for this club. It means a lot to me to play here, so that was my main ambition to come back really.
Being back in South Wales has also allowed Evans to spend more time with his family.
It’s good to be back home, living at home, seeing family regularly. Last year was quite difficult and obviously my family couldn’t really come up a lot as well, so it’s good to be back home.
Evans also reflected on his time coming through the Cardiff City Academy and the difficult decision to eventually leave the club.
It was tough, to be fair. Spending all our years there and leaving, I think I left 23, maybe 22, wherever it was, but yeah, it was brilliant. I wouldn’t change it for the world. Obviously, made my debut there, got into the first team and then just where I’m meant to be. Probably a difficult time, but Newport came at a good time on the loan before. So, yeah, I wouldn’t change anything about it. It was really good.
Having previously spent time at Newport on loan, Evans now feels settled after returning to the club on a permanent basis.
Yeah, I do feel settled, yeah. It feels at home. Like I said when I first came here, this feels like home, this club does, so that was my main target to come back and, yeah, I feel really settled in now.
The midfielder has also enjoyed working under Hayden Mullins since returning to Rodney Parade.
Yeah, I’ve really enjoyed it, yeah. He’s good, yeah. You can tell that he’s played the game before. He’s quite good by management as well, always free to throw a shot. But he’s starting to imply what he wants in the games and that now as well, which I think you can start to see what he wants. But, yeah, he’s been really good.
An injury during pre-season meant Evans had to wait for his opportunity at the beginning of the campaign.
I had a tough pre-season, I had an injury and then obviously came back and we were doing well, we won a couple of games. So, yeah, it was quite tough. It came out of probably a bad timing really because it was the end of pre-season coming into the start of the season and then I was dying to come back. But I’m just happy to be back now and fully fit.
With Newport enjoying a strong run at home, Evans believes the team now needs to turn good performances into more victories.
I think the Northampton game, you look back at that, we were all disappointed with that game. We shouldn’t have lost that game really. And maybe the Accrington game on the weekend was probably a good one for us because we felt like we should have won and we felt disappointed. But it was a good point away from home and that was our first point away from home.
We just need to keep, like you said, unbeaten at home. So, we need to keep that morale going of playing well at home and then when we play away from home, we’ve got to be even better as well.
Attention now turns to Saturday’s meeting with Grimsby Town, with Evans expecting another difficult League Two test.
I think Grimsby, they’re always a tough team to play at home or away. Like you said, their form this year is really good. They’re a strong side, like everyone in this league though. So, if we play well, I think it’ll be a good game. But yeah, I’m interested to see how it goes but I’m excited to see how it goes as well.
The fixture will also have an added personal significance for Evans, with his partner’s brother playing for Grimsby.
He gave me a call the other day. He’s my partner’s brother, so I’ll treat him like every other player but the main goal is to win. I wouldn’t treat him any other different way.
I’m excited to play against him really because we’ve been on about for a couple of years saying we’ll play against each other, so it’ll be nice to play against him but I’m out there to win, so that’s the main target.
It is set to be a memorable family occasion, with both sides having their own support in the stands.
It’ll be a good family occasion. We’re probably deciding what stand to go in, especially my partner, but it is what it is. It’s football, his family will obviously support him, I will support mine, so I’m excited to see how it goes and it’ll be a good occasion.
After making starts against Northampton and Accrington, Evans is now focused on building up his minutes and pushing for a regular place in the starting XI.
I started at Northampton as well, yeah. I think the injury I picked up was quite a harsh one. I’ve come back, played, the last two starts I’ve had I’ve only played 65 minutes, so it’s just building, can I get past 65 minutes now? But this week, last week, I feel good and I’m hoping to add more minutes, yeah.
The competition for places has also increased within the squad following the team’s recent performances.
That’s what I mean, that’s what the gaffer wants, he wants competition. So, every man for himself, really. Play well, you stay in the team. Don’t play well, you’re out of the team.
Evans also has his own personal targets for the season, although his main focus remains on helping the team.
Yeah, I always do, to be fair, and try and meet them. And try not to be too harsh on myself if it doesn’t, and get too down or high. But as long as I’m helping the team in any way, even if that’s just off the ball or on the ball, that’s all I’m happy to do, really.
Looking at what Newport can achieve this season, Evans believes the squad can surprise people if they can carry their strong home form into away fixtures.
I think a lot of people have written us off before the start of the season, but I think if we start performing like we did at home to when we do away and pick up more points, I think we’ll surprise a couple of people, yeah.