New County chief Christian Fuchs will seek a significant and immediate bounce from his "spirited" charges at Oldham's Boundary Park this Saturday writes Tony Rees.
James Clarke, Ports' skipper and seasoned centre back who has supervised training in the five days since former boss Dave Hughes departed the Newport hot seat, believes the Exiles are ready for lift-off in League Two under a fresh directive declaring, "The lads are in great spirits and have trained hard all week. Everyone to a man is primed to find a new momentum.
"We start under Christian [Fuchs] at Oldham. It is a fresh beginning and an opportunity to correct things. I am confident we'll start showing our true potential. It's about hearts and minds."
Former Bristol Rovers central destroyer Clarke, now 35, a player who has racked up over 450 matches, has relished his County caretaker role declaring, "I have felt quite inspired by the experience. It has certainly whetted my appetite to perhaps move into coaching once my player days end."
"Fuchs, 39, was installed 48 hours before this long trip to the foot of the Pennines for a crucial battle with the mid-table Latics - and his ready to make good a mission handed to him by Port chairman Huw Jenkins.
The 78-times capped Austrian international left back was, of course, amongst the King Power Stadium class of '16 that helped Leicester City win their first and only top-flight crown in the club's 141-year history under that masterful Italian coach Claudio Ranieri.
It really was a time of Dolce Vita - Fuchs hoisting the Premier League title, enjoying the sweetest of times alongside ex-England raider Jamie Vardy, N'Golo Kante. Riyard Mahrez and Kasper Schmeichel - national book makers gnashing their teeth paying out on the Foxes, who were 5000/1 against such a astonishing achievement.
County now look to extend an improving record on the road which has been them grab three points in two of their last three away games - re-establishing momentum - adding to the wins at Accrington and Harrogate.
Doubtless former Mainz star Fuchs, plucked from MLS outfit Charlotte FC and a coaching mandate after two years. will draw on a 21-year playing career which saw him proudly lead his country at the 2016 Euro Championships in France.
The elegant Austrian will address his troops at their team camp in Greater Manchester beforehand and would. maybe. seek, the type of industrial and gritty master piece artist LS Lowry daubed in the past - within a Lancashire town renowned for producing showbiz celebrities.
Take That's Mark Owen, legendary Eric Sykes and actor Sarah Lancashire herald from the parish of Saddleworth - Fuchs will be seeking an uplifting positive performance at an arena which is 60 metres above sea level, the second highest in the Football League to West Brom's Hawthorns.
County are boosted by the return of "Dil a dante" schemer Kai Whitmore from a one-match suspension - versatile Joe Thomas and left-side defender Tom Davies also potentially available for selection against 15th placed opponents who are decidedly modest scorers.
The Latics' leading six-goal marksman is Michael Mellon, the son of affable Oldham manager Micky - and he is borrowed from Premier League Burnley.
