By Rob Carbon
Finn Azaz and Oli Cooper are locked in a running battle in the Newport County midfield that could yet lead to the Exiles finally making the step up into League One.
Aston Villa loan star Azaz won promotion with Cheltenham Town last season and has struck up a great partnership with Swansea City loanee Cooper, alongside seasoned pros Ed Upson and Robbie Willmott in the middle of the park.
While Cooper is top of the assists in the league so far this season with eight, the 21-year-old Azaz has chipped in with three goals from his 22 appearances.
That is the same as he scored in 44 outings for Cheltenham last season.
There is no doubting their skill and enthusiasm and their running stats show they cover every blade of grass when they play.
“We have both got really good legs and it must be nice for Ed and Robbie having us doing all the running around for them,” says Azaz.
“We are two forward players, but we help out in defence and work hard in transition. Our running stats are both off the charts.
“Oli makes some brilliant runs when I get on the ball. He is more of a runner in behind than I am, although we both kind of mix it up.
We complain about creativity in this squad but have Oli Cooper absolutely tearing it up on loan at Newport.
16 games 1 goal and 8 assists this season.
1.6 Key Passes P90
1.6 Shots P90
4.1 Tackles + Interceptions P90
Goal Contribution Every 144 minutesGet him back in January 🦢 pic.twitter.com/faSMhvy8Dy
— øli 🏴🦢 (@scfcoli) December 11, 2021
“I ran 12.5k in the game against Colchester from a No.10 position and the figure is always over 12k. Oli usually runs a couple of hundred metres more than me.”
The faith shown in him by new manager James Rowberry has allowed Azaz to come to the fore after a slow start. Brought in by Michael Flynn, he did not feature much to begin with.
“I didn’t have a pre-season and that had an impact on my start. I had a little niggle, I got Covid and then I struggled to get back into the team, which was frustrating for me,” he says.
“Then, the new manager came in and put his trust in me. That meant I started a lot of games in a row and played the full 90 in a lot of those games.
“That helped me become match fit. That was where I wanted to be from the start of the season, but sometimes that’s how football goes.
“I understand that and I’m in a good place right now. I am enjoying my football and being in a house with other lads.”
Goals are the only thing missing from the otherwise outstanding credentials of the two young midfield dynamos and that is something Azaz says they are working hard to resolve.
Azaz did score a screamer against Stevenage and Cooper has one to his credit.
Aston Villa is pleased to announce the signing of Finn Azaz.
The 20-year-old joins from West Bromwich Albion and immediately heads out on loan to League Two side Newport County.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 26, 2021
“The goal against Stevenage was a great feeling. It felt so good and the pressure comes off you. I’ve got the most shots of any midfielder in the league, but not too many goals.
“The way the team is playing, and my role in the team, gives me an element of freedom. I can drop deep and get the ball to help us start and play high up the pitch.
“We are the best team I’ve seen in this league in transition, this season and last. I can see us getting promoted this season – 100%.
“Last season at Cheltenham we had a thing where we didn’t mention promotion until we got into the top three.
“But here, we are one of the best teams in the league, and we are capable of doing it, but actually doing it is a completely different thing.
“It is getting the balance between confidence and being driven and humble. We have been playing really well and had lots of shots and final third entries.
“But it is just that final bit in the final third from the forward players and wing backs that could really take us to the next step. I feel like I can get more goals, and I need to work on that, and so can Oli.”
While he is loving life in Newport, Azaz has his sights firmly fixed on breaking into the Premier League in the not too distant future.
A brilliant strike from Aston Villa youngster Finn Azaz which ended up being the winner in Newport County’s 2-1 win over Port Vale 👏
Cracking strike @finnazaz 🎯 #avfc pic.twitter.com/dIRGjDvQfl
— Total Villa (@Total_Villa) December 12, 2021
The arrival of Steven Gerrard at his parent club as manager has filled him with enthusiasm and he would love to be working under him.
“Villa are a big Premier League club and my aim is to play in the Premier League. Everyone has a different path to getting there and sometimes it is down to a bit of luck,” he says.
“Right now, I feel I am playing really well and I don’t think the jump would be that big for me. I feel I could play there now, but it is about getting there – that’s the hardest part.
“Even just to train under Steve Gerrard would be fantastic. Hopefully, I can do that soon – that would be unbelievable. I think he would like the way that I play and I hope I get the opportunity to be coached by him.
“I’m in a good team now, but my aim is to get into a team like Chelsea where you can suddenly become the star player that you have always been, but in which the playing environment helps you make it.
“Look at Mason Mount. He went from a team in the Championship to a team that won the Champions League.”
