NEWPORT County AFC manager Graham Westley believes midfielder Josh Sheehan can live up to his billing as the next Aaron Ramsey.

Arsenal star Ramsey returned to the Wales senior side as they drew 1-1 with Serbia in their World Cup qualifier in Cardiff on Saturday night.

Hours earlier Wales under-21 international Sheehan set County on the way to a stunning victory over previously unbeaten Carlisle United with a goal after just two minutes at Rodney Parade.

It was a third goal in four games for the 21-year-old who is on loan from Swansea City until January and Westley is certain that Sheehan is a star in the making.

“When I came here people said to me he was seen at one stage as being the next Aaron Ramsey and you can see why,” said the Exiles boss.

“He has got incredible ability, incredible energy, he’s got bite and appetite out of possession and he’s scoring goals and making a difference to games.

“There’s a hell of a player in the making there.”

Rhys Healey sealed the win with the third goal of his loan spell from Cardiff City and Westley was full of praise for the whole team from back to front.

“Jonah [Darren Jones] was absolutely awesome at the back with Benno [Scot Bennett],” he said.

“The goalkeeper, the two full-backs – how good were [Dan] Butler and Jazzi [Barnum-Bobb] when you compare to where they were four or five games ago?

“The performances they put in were exceptional and it was the same at the front with Josh [O’Hanlon] and Healey.

“And Sean Rigg has done a lot in the game,” he added. “He’s played at a high level but his ambition is to go up into the Championship and there’s a player who’s showing everything it takes to play at that level.

“Credit to them all – they’re playing with great ambition.”

Westley said Saturday’s home win – the club’s first in League Two since March – was a reward for the supporters’ loyalty.

“Our job is to win games and entertain the fans and the fans have been brilliant with us,” he said.

“We try to be as good as we can with them and give them the results they want and the performances they want.

“Fans go to work and work really hard to earn money to come and pay and watch their team and the least we can do is work just as hard when we’re at work.”

And, after also beating AFC Wimbledon in the Checkatrade Trophy last week, Westley’s men are targeting three successive home wins against Alfreton Town in Tuesday’s FA Cup 1st round replay.

“It’s one step at the time,” said the manager. “To win in football you have to be relentless and there’s no danger of us taking our foot off the gas, I can assure you.”