NEW striker Jamille Matt can’t wait to play alongside last season’s top scorer Padraig Amond as he aims to fire Newport County AFC to promotion from League Two.

Matt signed a two-year deal to join Amond at Rodney Parade this week after leaving League One Blackpool last month.

And the 28-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Grimsby Town, is excited about the potential of his partnership with former Mariners front man Amond.

“Padraig is a great player,” said Matt. “I’ve seen him play and I obviously knew of him because he had played for Grimsby before.

“We have a lot of mutual friends so I’ve spoken to them about him and they all say that he is a very good player.

“Obviously, he’s a player that if I can play alongside him then it will be good for the football club.”

Amond scored 14 times for County last season and Matt believes he can help bring out the best in the Irishman, as well as chipping in with goals of his own.

He told iFollow Exiles: “I would have to say that I see myself as the traditional target man. I like to play central and stay in and around the opposition penalty area.

“I will work my socks off without the ball as well, I thrive off crosses. In a nutshell, I would say that that is me – I try to bring other players into play as well but that’s pretty much me as a player.

“In terms of League Two, first and foremost, you have to be up for the challenge and up for that physical battle.

“And most importantly, you need to be able to play through the full 90 minutes – people can make a mistake and a chance could fall at any time, so you have to be ready to take that opportunity.

“I’ve played a lot of games in League Two and I’d like to think that I am accustomed to the league and I know what it takes to succeed. I’m looking to put that into practise moving forward.”

South Wales Argus:

Matt (above right) has previously helped Fleetwood Town and Blackpool to win promotion from League Two and he is targeting similar success with the Exiles.

“It’s an old cliché but it’s a marathon and not a sprint,” he said.

“You can start poorly but drive all the way to the top after Christmas to get to where you want to go.

“You can start great but then you might fall off. It doesn’t really make a difference which way around that happens – it’s a long season.

“It would be great to have a good start, but I’d much rather finish well and be challenging at the top of the table.

“First and foremost, you have to have a squad of players that will all pull together in the same direction,” he added.

“If you’ve got that and a little bit of team spirit then the momentum that will come from that will drive you on.

“When you start winning games, it snowballs from there and gives you confidence. It gets everyone behind you and that’s what it’s all about – everyone being together and pulling in the same direction.

“If we can do that then I’m sure we’ll be there or thereabouts.

“For me, to be in and around the play-offs or the top end of the table would be success.

“I’ve got promoted a couple of times in my career with different clubs and I’ve also been to the play-off final a couple of times as well – so that must be an aim for me coming here.”