Newport County can go top of League Two with a win against leaders Exeter City at St James Park in Devon today (Saturday, 3pm).
Manager Michael Flynn and his team have started 2017-18 in style after their Great Escape from the threat of relegation last season.
This afternoon’s match will be a test of his far Newport have come and Exeter manager Paul Tisdale says: “I’m expecting a confident team.
“Michael (Flynn) has had the chance to adjust his team following an incredible finish to stay up and I’m really, really impressed by what they’ve done and how they’ve carried it on into this season.
“We have a really good opportunity to see how they’ve improved their team, improved their performance. This will be a really good indicator.”
Both Exeter and second-placed Newport after unbeaten after four fixtures each and County midfield player Robbie Willmott says: “The whole club is buzzing.
“It’s the best I’ve seen the club since we were promoted four years ago.”
Exeter are intent on mounting a second successive challenge for promotion, having finished fifth last season before losing 2-1 in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium.
“It’s early days and I’m certainly not getting carried away,” says Tisdale. “I’m sure Michael Flynn isn’t either.
“It’s great to be going into September having had such a great start but we’ve got a lot of work to do yet.
“There are 42 games to go and I think it’s a platform to build on.”
Exeter made four deadline day signings in Jayden Stockley, Hiram Boateng plus West Bromwich Albion players Kane Wilson and Kyle Edwards.
They paid a club record fee of £100,000 for Stockley, while ex-Plymouth loanee Boateng, 21, played three times for Premier League Crystal Palace.
Exeter have also signed right-back Kane Wilson, 17, and striker Kyle Edwards, 19, on loan from West Brom.
Wilson, though, is not available to play against Newport because he is on international duty.
Mark O’Brien, who went off with a tight hamstring problem during Newport’s 4-1 win against Chesterfield last weekend, is fit to play against Exeter.
“Mark is fine,” said Flynn. “It’s a big boost for us. He came off Saturday because his hamstring was really stiff and I wasn’t going to risk him.
“I didn’t want to lose him for six weeks because he’s a big player for us so common sense was needed on that one.”
Joss Labadie, Shawn McCoulsky and Lamar Reynolds are all rated doubtful for the match at Exeter because of injuries.
“It’s not great if I’m honest,” said Flynn. “I thought a few would have been a lot better, but we’ll have to wait until the last minute on them.”
Newport County, probable: J Day, B White, M O’Brien, D Pipe, M Demetriou, R Willmott, S Rigg or T Owen-Evans, F Nouble, M Dolan, R Cole, P Amond.
Bench, from: J Bittner, D Butler, S Bennett, C Jahraldo-Martin, S Rigg or T Owen-Evans, J Quigley, J Barnum-Bobb, B Tozer.
