Lewis Payne joined the Exiles on a season-long loan from Southampton in the Summer and is looking to continue impressing Manager Graham Coughlan when the opportunities arise.
Despite Newport currently being lower down in the division after a tough run of league results both the players and manager are looking for a response to pull away from the bottom half of the table. Payne shared his mindset on the current form: “The performances haven’t been bad,” he stated.
“We know the points return hasn’t been ideal, but I think we need to go back to basics, do what we are good at and the results will come.”
The loan move is Payne’s first away from the Saints and he is very much ‘learning on the job’ and understands he has to earn his place in Coughlan’s starting eleven, particularly with those who share his position putting equally good performances in, week in, week out: “I’m really enjoying it.
“It’s a different, yet valuable experience for me,” he added.
“I haven’t had too much game time but I am fully understanding of the fact that every player has to earn his place, I know I have to continue working hard and taking my chances, which I believe I am doing.
“My teammates are great and the manager as been fantastic with me, so I’m really pleased.”
Despite only having been an Exile for just shy of three months, Payne is thrilled with the amount of learning he has undertaken, simply from being around the first-team environment: “I’ve learnt so much already and it’s still only early days,” he confirmed.
“I’ve got a long way to go and there is a long time left of the season yet, that can only be a good thing.”
Payne will be looking to hold his place in Coughlan’s starting eleven ahead of Friday’s clash with Walsall, you can buy tickets to the fixture here.