Newport midfielder James Waite is looking to continue to impress manager Graham Coughlan and take his chances on the field when they present themselves.
Waite joined the Exiles back in January 2022, since then he has amassed 77 appearances in amber and black, scoring five goals and assisting six. He’ll be looking to add to his tally as the season approaches the festive period, famed for it’s relentlessness and hectic schedule.
Although it’s fair to say Waite hasn’t started as much as he would’ve liked recently, he understands the importance of being ready and able to come off the bench and make an impact on the game: “The manager [Graham Coughlan] is going to need everyone ready to go, and it’s why we have a squad as opposed to just the starting eleven,” he explained. “I’m sure every player will be needed with the amount of games we have coming up in quick succession, like I said, you’ve just got to be ready.”
Newport have recently seen the return of James Clarke, Aaron Wildig, Seb Palmer-Houlden and Harry Charsley from injury which has naturally enhanced the level of healthy competition for places in the starting eleven, but Waite is keen to keep working hard on the training pitch and take his opportunities: “As a footballer when you’re not playing you are naturally frustrated, I don’t think it would be right if you weren’t.
“At the end of the day you’ve got to keep working hard, control what you can control and take the chances when they come,” concluded the midfielder.
Coughlan’s side have had back-to-back wins in the league. Waite shared his feelings around not being in the starting eleven: “It’s tough, but nothing I haven’t experienced in football before. When players are performing on the pitch and winning games, that’s how football works and I understand that, we’re a team."
Despite his frustrations Waite emphasised the positive mentality around the dressing room on the back of the positive results in the league and was sure that they would take the mindset into this weekend’s clash with Tranmere Rovers: “The lads have been performing really well and we’ve had two great wins [Stockport & Morecambe] in the league to back it up.
“Hopefully tomorrow [Tranmere Rovers] we can go out there and give a good account of ourselves and come away with the all-important three points.”
You can watch the Exiles in action tomorrow afternoon as they take on Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park. You can secure your tickets HERE.