A WEEK on from their Carabao Cup clash with West Ham United, Newport County AFC take on the Hammers again in the Leasing.com Trophy tonight.

The Premier League club brought a squad full of stars to Newport last week and goals from Jack Wilshere and Pablo Fornals gave them a 2-0 win.

Tonight’s travelling squad will be much younger as the Exiles are up against West Ham under-21s at Rodney Parade (kick-off 7.45pm).

And County striker Padraig Amond is expecting a very different challenge.

“It’s going to be a good game,” Amond told iFollowExiles.

“It’ll be completely different game compared to last week against West Ham.

“We’ll come up against a lot of young kids who will be wanting to make a name for themselves and putting themselves in the picture, saying they should have been involved last week with the first team.

“It’s going to be a tough game, I don’t know what the gaffer will do but we’ll give it everything we have, whoever is on the pitch.

“Hopefully we can progress further than we did last season.”

South Wales Argus:

Michael Flynn’s men made it through the group stages last year, when the competition was known as the Checkatrade Trophy, before losing on penalties at Cheltenham Town in the second round.

As well as the young Hammers, County have been paired with League Two rivals Exeter City and Cheltenham in Group C of the southern section of the competition.

Exeter come to Newport on Tuesday, October 8 (kick-off 7.45pm), before the Exiles conclude their group stage games at Cheltenham's Jonny-Rocks Stadium on Tuesday, November 12 (kick-off 7.45pm).

There is no extra-time in the group stages, but there will be a penalty shootout if the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes.

Clubs will earn £10,000 for a win and £5,000 each for a draw.

Flynn is likely to make a number of changes from Saturday’s 2-0 win over Forest Green Rovers.

Deadline day signing Dominic Poleon could make his debut up front.

Read more: Newport County star excited by young gun Tristan Abrahams