NEWPORT County AFC midfielder Matty Dolan is delighted to have Joss Labadie back at the club and he can’t wait to play with him again.

Labadie, who re-joined County last week, has recovered from the anterior cruciate ligament knee injury that has kept him out since March but tomorrow’s League Two clash at Carlisle United will come too soon for him.

The 28-year-old hopes to be fit to return to action in the next fortnight and Dolan is excited by the prospect of playing alongside the former skipper in the heart of the Exiles midfield once again.

“It’s a massive boost for everyone,” he said. “It was horrible what happened to Labs at the end of last season but he looks really strong and fit now.

“He’d be a massive boost for anyone in this league so it’s brilliant that we’ve brought him back.

“It’s the perfect fit; the fans love him, we love him in the dressing room and hopefully he can slot back in.

“He’s coming back as a new player so he’ll want to prove himself all over again but it’s almost like he never left.

“He’s working hard and the staff are doing everything they can to make sure he’s back fit and I’m sure he will come back fitter and stronger than he ever had been.

“That’s the character that he is and he’ll also bring everyone else on – the standard of training and the competition for places.

“That causes everyone else to step up their game,” added Dolan.

“We’ve got people coming back from injury and once everyone is back you look at that squad and there’s great competition for places.

“Tyreeq [Bakinson] has hit the ground running and done really well, the skipper [Andrew Crofts] is top quality, Shees [Josh Sheehan] is there and Benno [Scot Bennett] as well.

“If we keep our feet on the ground, the results will follow.”

Captain Crofts is also currently sidelined with an Achilles problem but he too is close to a return.

And, despite his injury problems, Dolan says the Wales international has made his mark off the pitch over the past few months.

“From the first minute he sat us down as a group and delivered a very good speech to us all,” he revealed.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for him – he’s earned that because he’s a good character and he’s a good player.

“It would have been easy for him to be down in the dumps with his injury but he’s been fantastic in helping the boys and that’s testament to his character. He’s desperate to get back out on the pitch and he’s doing everything he can. It’ll be a massive boost when he is back.”

Fitness worries have been a theme of the past few weeks for the Exiles but Dolan, who has had his own problems, has been impressed with the way the squad has coped in adversity.

“I’ve had a couple of niggles here and there but the physio and the gaffer have looked after me really well,” he said. “I was pleased with my start to the season and I don’t want to miss any games because there is competition for places.

“I think the boys have been brilliant. The versatility of some of the players is fantastic.

“It is a small squad but it’s a quality squad and people can be relied upon.

“Pringy [Cameron Pring] came on last week and he was fantastic, Pipey [David Pipe] slotted in at centre-half – everyone is doing a job and fighting for each other.”