DARREN Jones has completed his return to Newport County AFC and looks set to go straight into the starting XI at Leyton Orient tomorrow night, subject to international clearance.

As revealed by the Argus on Saturday, Jones was at Rodney Parade to watch County draw 2-2 with Dagenham & Redbridge.

He met with Exiles boss Warren Feeney before the game to discuss a return to his hometown club from Forest Green Rovers.

And Jones became a free agent yesterday afternoon when, as a Forest Green statement put it, it was “mutually agreed by both parties to terminate the defender's contract.”

The 32-year-old trained with County this morning and has signed a contract until the end of the season to begin a third spell at the club.

Jones’ first stint was in the Conference South at Spytty Park from 2004 to 2005.

He returned to join Justin Edinburgh’s League Two side in the summer of 2014 and played 43 games last season as he was voted player of the year by Argus readers.

He departed for the New Lawn last May after turning down a new contract offer from then-manager Terry Butcher.

But his third spell with the Conference club did not go to plan and he has not featured since November after making 10 appearances this season.

Feeney told the club website: “Darren knows the club well, but more importantly he knows this league.

“He is an experienced defender. We have played against each other and you certainly know you are in a game when you come up against him!

“It’s crucial that we have cover for that vital centre-back position.

“Janoi Donacien picked up a hamstring injury during Saturday’s game, so to have an extra player as cover will be a great benefit to us.

“There is a lot of football left to be played this season and Darren is a great player to have around the dressing room, and he will no doubt help other players around him to raise their game.”

Speaking after signing his contract, Jones said: “I’m delighted to be back at Newport County AFC.

“There is a crucial period of the season approaching and the first thing that we have to achieve as players is safety in this division.

“I want to get back to the same level that I was playing at last season while I was here.

“The club has got to survive and keep its place in the Football League, so that is the main goal between now and the end of the season.

“There are a lot of new faces at the club, but there are still a couple of players that I played with last season, with the likes of Joe Day, Mark Byrne and Yan Klukowski.

“It will be good to team up with those players again and I just want to hit the ground running.”