YOUTH team striker Momodou Touray is aiming to force his way into the Newport County AFC first team after helping the academy win the EFL Youth Alliance Merit League 1 title last season.

Touray was originally part of the club’s community-run college programme before being rewarded with a two-year scholarship following his impressive performances for the club’s futsal and South West Counties teams.

Along with fellow striker Rhys Kavanagh, Touray’s goals helped the under-18s, coached by academy manager Byron Anthony, to win the league unbeaten.

Kavanagh and goalkeeper Rhys Davies look set to move on to bigger and better things this summer but Touray is targeting a spot in Michael Flynn’s League Two squad.

The talented teenager got half an hour to impress Flynn at Undy AFC last week.

And he played the full 90 minutes in Wednesday night’s friendly match at Merthyr Town in front of first team coach Wayne Hatswell.

“I thought I played well,” said Touray. “Wayne told me to try and hold the ball up and I thought I did that well. I felt fit and I felt I could have played for longer.

“Anyone would want to play first-team football as a youth player so it was really good for me to get that again. Hopefully if I work hard then more opportunities will come.

“I feel like I’m getting better as a player,” he added. “The other strikers have helped me in training and it makes me confident.

“I think I am developing. I try to use what I learn in the games and it seems to be working well.”

And Touray knows that if he keeps banging in the goals for the under-18s he will progress.

“We won the league unbeaten, which was a first for the club, so we’re looking to do the same this year and win the cup as well,” he said.

“I’m just looking to help the team to achieve more. That’s what I’m here to do – help the team and get better myself and look to get into the first team squad.”

Anthony believes Flynn will give youth a chance and he expects the likes of Touray and fellow forward Lewis Collins, younger brother of former Exiles star Aaron, to be next in line.

“Creative players are hard to get hold of these days, especially in our league, so I’m sure those two will be knocking on the door and hopefully they get their opportunity,” he said.

“Michael has said to me all along that he will play these guys if they are good enough.

“It doesn’t matter how old they are. It’s an ideal situation and those players have got to give themselves every chance.

“They can have a good foundation and build from that if and when they get an opportunity they have to take it, whether it be training or a game.”

Defender Jay Foulston has also impressed in the friendlies at Swindon Supermarine and Merthyr.

“Michael and Wayne both told me Jay looked like an experienced player,” said Anthony.

“He didn’t look out of place at Swindon, which is great for a first-year scholar.

“He’s just come up so he’s experiencing full-time training for the first time.

“He looked the part again [at Merthyr] so that’s good from our point of view but he’s still got a long way to go.”