BRYN Morris brought up a rapid half-century for Newport County AFC last weekend and has seven games left to increase a personal best.

The 27-year-old midfielder has been a constant presence for the Exiles since joining from Grimsby last summer.

Morris has started all 39 League Two games, all six FA Cup ties and both fixtures in the Carabao Cup.

He was also in the XI for two EFL Trophy encounters and the only time he has been on the bench was at Cheltenham, when he came on at half-time.

The only other outfield players in League Two to have a chance of a perfect 46 starts are MK Dons midfielder Alex Gilbey (40), Notts County's golden boot contender Macauley Langstaff, Crewe defender Rio Adebisi (both 39) and Doncaster midfielder Owen Bailey (38).

Morris has already played for County more than any other club in his career and has provided some welcome stability for boss Graham Coughlan in an injury-hit season along with goalkeeper Nick Townsend, defender/midfielder Scot Bennett and forward Will Evans.

South Wales Argus: REGULAR: Newport County midfielder Bryn MorrisREGULAR: Newport County midfielder Bryn Morris (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“I’ve racked up a few games and I am feeling better than I ever have thanks to the rhythm of games,” said the north easterner, who made 42 outings for Grimsby in 2022/23.

“It's a relentless season and you are always preparing for the next game. There's not much time to reflect because the next game is around the corner.

“The gaffer has it spot-on in terms of not over or under-cooking it. If we have had a positive result then we might get two days off for that mental side of things and then after a break we get back to work.”

Morris has set a new PB for games in a season and he has also hit a new high for goals scored.

The midfielder has beaten his 2018/19 effort of five (four for Wycombe, one for Portsmouth) thanks to strikes against Salford, Walsall (2), Stockport, Manchester United, Walsall and Wimbledon.

Morris’ tally of 43 shots from outside the box is the seventh highest in the division.

South Wales Argus: HIGHLIGHT: Bryn Morris fires in from distance for Newport County as Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes tries to close him downHIGHLIGHT: Bryn Morris fires in from distance for Newport County as Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes tries to close him down (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

The effort against the Dons was a cracker, driven low into the bottom right corner from distance after fine work by Offrande Zanzala, but it isn’t his pick of the campaign.

“It’s up there, probably my one against Walsall was a bit better but in terms of technique it was good,” said Morris, with the strike against the Saddlers an absolute rocket into the top right after link-up play with Evans and Omar Bogle.

“I'm on seven goals and four assists, not that I'm counting! I am really pleased and I'm still looking to add to it.

“I'd still like to have a couple more but with James Clarke being injured, ‘Benno’ has dropped back into the middle of a back three.

“In turn I have dropped into a bit of a deeper role, although I don’t think that I am pigeonholed.

“If I do make the odd run forward then Aaron Wildig does sit in – we are on the same wavelength – but it does stop me having a little bit of freedom to get forward.”

County travel to relegation-threatened Colchester on Good Friday with the aim of bouncing back from their 1-0 defeat at sixth-placed Barrow on Saturday.

Crawley, who head to Rodney Parade on Monday, are in the final play-off spot and have a four-point lead over the Exiles plus a game in hand.