DEFENDER Byron Anthony believes the Exiles have had the perfect pre-season, ahead of the most ex-citing campaign since the club re-formed.

A full quarter of a century after the original Newport County were relegated to non-league football, and subsequently went out of business, the Exiles have risen once more.

In May they secured their return to the Football League with a 2-0 play-off win against Welsh rivals Wrexham and they’ve subsequently managed to keep their promotion squad intact.

Manager Justin Edinburgh has also managed to bring in several of his first choice summer transfer targets in a pre-season campaign in which the Exiles have remained undefeated.

It’s enough to enthuse Anthony, the Newport-born defender returning to the Football League after spells with Cardiff City and League Two rivals Bristol Rovers.

Indeed, he believes he’s never been involved with a club making a bigger impact on their local community.

“You look around Newport and there have probably never been more kids in County tops.

“We can tell the club’s stature in the city is growing, it’s great to be involved in.”

Anthony admits the unusually hot summer has made pre-season training even more of a slog, but he’s confident the Exiles will be in perfect shape come the start of the season.

“This group works incredibly hard, we’ve had some good pre-season friendlies and we’ve all come back with a buzz after the amazing season we had. It makes us look forward to things that much more.”

Anthony has seen defender Harry Worley arrive as a potential rival for a starting spot, but he relishes the competition.

“Not having that, it makes you complacent, I’ve always had a fight on my hands to get in the team throughout my career and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

And on the excitement factor?

“There is such a buzz around the place, it’s a career highlight for me, a dream come true and I can’t wait to get started, we are all just desperate for August 3 to come around now, we are ready to get going again and are relishing the challenge.”