Teenager Hugh Bevan set for first-team Newport debut
Teenager Hugh Bevan is ready to make his first-team debut for Newport tomorrow against league leaders Sutton Coldfield in National League Three Midlands.
The Forton Road side are set to include the 17-year old utility back in their squad for the weekend following his impressive run in the second team.
He is likely to face a baptism of fire against a side that have won all eight of their opening games so far. But head coach Steve Dolphin is confident the youngster is ready to make the step up."I watched him in an inter-club game on Tuesday where he played very well and he scored four tries for the second team last weekend," he said.
"He is full of confidence, he's got a great kick and he is a real athlete.
"He's been training with the first and second teams for the last six weeks and racked up a lot of points for the seconds both with kicking and tries.
"Without a doubt this will be a baptism of fire for him but I have got no qualms about putting him into that sort of environment."
Newport will also be boosted by the return of James Simpson, who has spent two weeks out with an arm injury.
Dolphin admitted his side are likely to be written off against Sutton, especially following five straight defeats.
But he has urged his players to seize the day.
"It is a real challenge but we have proved over the years that we love to cause an upset," he said.
"We will be written off. No one will expect us to go there and get anything but we will be at full strength and looking to execute a game plan.
"We have not been far off in recent weeks and we have been working on little things in training."
In Midlands Three West, both Shrewsbury and Cleobury Mortimer will be on the road tomorrow against third-placed Newcastle and seventh-placed Stourbridge Lions respectively.
Cleobury will start the day inside the bottom two having lost their opening five games, but knowing victory could well drive them up the table.
Shrewsbury will be hoping to snap a four-game losing streak in the league but will come up against a side aiming to bounce back from their first loss of the season.
Newcastle went down 16-14 away at Willenhall in their last game following three straight wins and a draw.
