NEWPORT County AFC star Lee Minshull is looking to shine against former club AFC Wimbledon tomorrow as he attempts to convince manager Justin Edinburgh that he deserves a new contract.

The 28-year-old has helped both the Exiles and the Dons to promotion to League Two via the Conference play-offs and has enjoyed an impressive season on his return to the Football League with County.

But Minshull is out of contract this summer and admits that he has yet to discuss a new deal with Edinburgh.

“I’m feeling good at the moment,” he said. “I’ve managed to stay fit, which is half the battle, and I’ve played quite a few games recently.

“You’re always playing for your position I think but towards the end of the season people are thinking about next year.

“The pool of players the manager has to pick from is getting bigger and bigger so you can’t really afford to stop working hard and take it easy.

“I need to sit down with the manager,” he added. “Hopefully I’ll be here next season. I want to stay.”

Minshull put his career as a quantity surveyor on hold to play full-time football for Wimbledon after their promotion to the Football League in 2011.

He joined County on loan in January 2012 and made the move permanent that summer and he’s relishing the return to Kingsmeadow, along with fellow former Dons Max Porter, Christian Jolley and Ryan Jackson.

“It’s the first time I’ve been back there and I think it’s the same for a few of the lads so it will be nice to play there again,” said Minshull.

“It’s like it is here. You have a special bond with the players you got promoted with and with the fans. I had a good time there and I’m glad they’ve gone on to do well.

“To have those two memorable play-off victories in my career is special for me and a great achievement.

“I’m looking forward to seeing a few old faces and hopefully we’ll be on the right end of the result.

“When we played them at our place they were struggling a bit and we were on a bad run so this one hopefully should be much more enjoyable.

“Hopefully we can be a bit more relaxed now but they’ll be aiming to finish as high as they can, just like us, and it will be another tough game.

“It’s usually a decent surface there and hopefully there’ll be a good crowd on Good Friday. I’m looking forward to it.”