PEP Guardiola and his Manchester City squad are in Newport this week but he won’t be passing on any trade secrets to Newport County AFC manager Warren Feeney.

City, who won at Swansea City in the EFL Cup last night, are staying at the Celtic Manor and training at Newport’s Dragon Park ahead of Saturday’s Premier League visit to the Liberty Stadium.

And Feeney, a big fan of Guardiola, had been keen to watch the Premier League outfit in training but his request was rebuffed.

“I know they’re training at Dragon Park and it’s fantastic,” said the Exiles boss. “You’ve got to look up to people like that.

“There was a possibility [of watching them train] but I think it’s his ruthlessness – he likes to keep it all in house, which I can understand.”

Feeney revealed, however, that he has been offered advice from one top tier manager this week and he’s also taking inspiration from some of the legends of the game.

He said: “I spoke to a Premier League manager this week and he said ‘do you believe in what you’re doing?’ I said ‘yes’ and he said ‘well keep doing it and it will turn.’ “They are the people I will listen to because they’ve been there and done it. And that’s no disrespect to anyone else – I’ll take opinions – but I got to have that energy for the players.”

He added: “We watched a Brian Clough DVD on the bus last week.

“And you see [Jose] Mourinho at [Manchester] United had them training in a car park against Northampton.

“I love the old school and I think kids coming up nowadays have everything done for them.

“And Pep Guardiola – yes he’s got unbelievable players but I can tell you now he’s absolutely ruthless.

“I read all the books on them – every day you’re learning.”

Feeney will be hoping some of that star quality rubs off in his players this week as they target a much-needed three points at home to League Two’s bottom club Cambridge United on Saturday afternoon.