NEW signing Tom Naylor can’t wait to get stuck into Bristol Rovers tomorrow as he prepares for his Newport County AFC debut.

The defender, who arrived at Rodney Parade on loan from Championship club Derby County earlier this week, looks set to start against Rovers.

With Byron Anthony and Tony James definitely ruled out and Ismail Yakubu doubtful with a calf strain, Naylor could line up alongside Andrew Hughes and Harry Worley in central defence.

And he’s relishing the prospect of impressing a bumper crowd having been on the losing side in Newport for Grimsby Town in the Conference play-offs in April.

“I’ve come here to play football and I’m looking forward to hopefully starting against Bristol Rovers,” said the 22-year-old.

“I played Newport three times towards the end of last season so I know all about Rodney Parade and how good the players are here.

“It’s a new chapter for me and I can’t wait to get started. If I get chucked in there you want to play the best and Bristol Rovers should be a great match.

“It’s a local derby and it should be a great atmosphere,” he added. “Everyone enjoys the derbies. You want the three points and the bragging rights over your neighbours.”

Naylor, who is out of favour at Pride Park, is open to staying at County beyond his initial loan period and is impressed with the ambition of the club.

“Everyone is buzzing to be in the League and you can see that in training,” he said.

“The gaffer has said to me that there is a lot of ambition here and he’s brought in a few lads this summer so the club is going to give it a good go.

“I’m here until January and I’m going to try to get as many games in as possible and if I play well then hopefully I can extend it until the end of the season.

“I’m not sure yet what will happen but we’ll see how things go. I am in the shop window and I’m not getting the opportunities at Derby so I had to look elsewhere.”