Latest news with #LiamShephard
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Hughes could freshen up Newport side for Lions tie
David Hughes is mulling over changes to his Newport County side in their bid to cause a Carabao Cup upset against Exiles welcome the Lions to Rodney Parade on Tuesday (19:30 BST) after beating Barnet on penalties in the preliminary extended their unbeaten start to life under Hughes on Saturday when beating Crawley 2-1 thanks to goals by Kai Whitmore and Liam Shephard in County manager has used 14 starters in four fixtures so far and, with a league trip to Grimsby Town to come on Saturday, will consider tinkering with his line-up."We've discussed that we will need everybody," said Hughes, who is yet to field Anthony Glennon and Bobby Kamwa - both regulars last season - in an XI this term."Some of the guys have not started but over the coming period everybody will be massively valuable."The group needs to keep themselves level and focused, then when the opportunity is there they need to grasp it."Millwall got their Championship campaign off to a winning start with an impressive 2-1 win at Norwich over the have enjoyed lucrative FA Cup runs in recent seasons while in the Carabao Cup they have claimed the scalps of Charlton, Luton, Portsmouth, Ipswich, Swansea and Watford."We know the value of the cups, they are significant and there is a rich history here with runs," said Hughes."We'd love to replicate that but what we have to do is ensure we monitor the players off the back of the weekend performance to see who is fresh and who is ready to play again."We need to give a good account of ourselves and we know that we are the underdogs. The league is the most important thing, let's not forget that, but a cup game is a nice break."
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Have your say - how do you rate Newport's start to the season?
Newport County are unbeaten after their opening two league games - and preparing to face Championship side Millwall in the first round of the Carabao far, so encouraging for a side written off by many pundits and bookmakers before the season warming up for the league with a penalty shoot-out win over Barnet in the preliminary round of the cup, County opened their League Two campaign with a solid 1-1 draw against highly-fancied Notts Exiles followed that up by claiming their first league win under new boss Dave Hughes, goals from Kai Whitmore and debutant Liam Shephard giving them a 2-1 victory at relegated Crawley Zealand goalkeeper Nik Tzanev - one of a host of new players signed by Newport in the summer - also caught the eye at Broadfield Stadium with some impressive saves, while Lee Jenkins' long throw-ins look like they will be an asset. Early days, yes, but four points from the first six on offer should provide fans with encouragement that County will make significant progress on last season's disappointing 22nd-place is also hoping to make more additions to his squad before the transfer window closes at the end of August. So how do you feel after the opening two games? Do County look stronger than last year? Are there areas of the pitch you are still worried about? Let us know your views by clicking here.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Shephard 'buzzing' with Newport return
Liam Shephard says he is "buzzing" to have returned "home" after scoring on his second debut for Newport defender - who made 52 appearances for the Exiles during the 2020-21 season - signed a one-year deal with the Exiles last week following his release from Salford was immediately thrust into the limelight on Saturday, starting and scoring as David Hughes' side maintained their unbeaten start to the 2025-26 campaign with a 2-1 win at Crawley Town."I'm buzzing. We've been speaking pretty much through all of the off-season. It was frustrating at times but we finally got the deal done," he told BBC Sport Wales of his return to the club."It makes sense to come home after four years. I'm just happy."I feel like when I was here last time, it was such a good group and I didn't really want to leave but there were other circumstances. "People can say what they want to say but they don't know the real reasons to it - that's between me and the people in charge at the time. "I'm just happy to be back and hopefully we can try and do something similar to that this season or maybe next season - let's see."The victory over Crawley means Newport have collected four of the six points on offer in League Two so far - while they also progressed into the first round of the Carabao Cup having beaten Barnet on penalties in the preliminary finished 22nd under Nelson Jardim last term, Hughes is eyeing significant progress this Shephard - who was part of the Newport side that reached the fourth tier's play-off final at Wembley just four years ago - says the club can aim high once the new-look squad has had sufficient time to gel."Anything can happen in League Two. Morecambe for example, when we played them, no one expected them to be at the top for so long," added Shephard."The boys have only been together for four or five weeks. The more games they play together the more understanding you get and I think you saw a lot of good patterns of play today."Building those relationships can hopefully lead to good things."The boys need to be willing to improve in every game and every training session and if that's the mindset we have, we could go wherever we want to go."
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Newport need signings to cope with schedule
Manager David Hughes says Newport County's unrelenting schedule means they need more signings before the transfer window Shephard became the Exiles' ninth new arrival when the versatile defender returned for a second spell at Rodney Parade on club have also signed goalkeepers Nik Tzanev and Jordan Wright, centre-back Lee Jenkins, midfielder Matt Smith and striker Ged Garner, along with right-back Habeeb Ogunneye, midfielder Ben Lloyd and striker Michael Reindorf on transfer deadline is on 1 September and Hughes is mindful of a fixture list until the end of the year that features at least 27 games in League Two, the EFL Trophy, Carabao Cup and FA Cup to go along with the two already played."We are still working on a couple of bits and pieces to try and ensure we can continue to support the players that we have here," said the manager, who takes his side to Crawley Town on Saturday (15:00 BST). "We know the schedule up to Christmas will be heavy with games. We are Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday for a big period of time."The chairman and I are continuously discussing the possibility of what that looks like and we will continue to strengthen the squad over the coming weeks." Exiles' travel sickness County's season started early with a Carabao Cup preliminary round success at Barnet on penalties and that was followed by a home 1-1 draw with Notts County in their League Two now travel to face a Crawley side looking for a big reaction to a 3-0 defeat by Grimsby Exiles were the worst travellers in the division last season with 14 points from 23 fixtures and haven't won on the road since a superb 3-0 win at Crewe Alexandra on 8 February."We are looking forward, we can't keep looking back," said Hughes, who was appointed as Nelson Jardim's successor in May."It's important to stress what we have got in front of us and we have a group who have shown really good levels in pre-season and the first two games."What has happened in the past is in the past, this group have an opportunity to shape the next nine months and we are excited by that."Newport showed battling qualities against Barnet, when two injury-time goals meant they had to hold their nerve from the spot, and Notts Garner's header put them in front against the Magpies but they were denied by a contentious penalty."We showed outstanding moments in both games, particularly the second half against Notts County," said Hughes."We showed outstanding grit, resilience and, in spells, some really good passages of play. They are the points we will continue to reinforce."
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Shephard in mix for Newport's trip to Crawley
Liam Shephard is in contention to start his second Newport County spell at Crawley Town in League Exiles signed the 30-year-old - who is primarily a right-back but can also play in a central trio and midfield - this week after he was released by Salford City at the end of last stayed fit on a PFA training camp for unattached players and is an option for manager David Hughes in Sussex on Saturday (15:00 BST), provided that international clearance comes through in time."He has looked sharp and we were really pleased with how he presented and reported on his first day," said Hughes."He has looked really fit and sharp after four weeks with the PFA, which speaks volumes about the work they are doing to support players out of contract. He comes to us in good health, good fitness and available."Shephard was a key figure in Newport's promotion challenge in 2020-21 and started in the play-off final defeat to Morecambe at is reunited with coach Wayne Hatswell and will provide an option down the right along with Joe Thomas and Manchester United loanee Habeeb Evans, who played at right-back, left-back and centre-back last season, has been used as a combative midfielder in the early stages of the campaign."Liam brings experience, outstanding quality and technical ability. He is still only 30 so there is still a good amount of football in front of him," said Hughes."He adds significantly to the squad so we are really pleased to add him to what we already have."Anybody who has worked with Liam speaks volumes about his personality, professionalism and character, Wayne being one of those."We have been really pleased with the manner that the players have applied themselves since pre-season and he adds to that."The Exiles have some minor niggles but are hoping that the squad that drew 1-1 with Notts County in their League Two opener will be available for Ciaran Brennan (shoulder) and winger Michael Spellman (groin) are close to returns.
