ROBBIE Willmott intends to bulk up to shake off his tag as Mr Versatile and earn a slot in central midfield after returning to Newport County AFC.

The 27-year-old from Essex, who was released by Terry Butcher in 2015, is back with the Exiles after being signed by his former teammate and now manager Mike Flynn.

Willmott made 73 appearances for the club after signing from Cambridge in January, 2013 and was a member of the squad that secured a return to the Football League.

He promises to be a vital member of Flynn's squad with the ability to slot in down either flank as a winger or even as a full-back, but it was as part of a midfield trio that the affable Willmott enjoyed a first run-out of the summer last weekend.

"I just want to get out there and get as many appearances as I can this season, showing 100 per cent commitment like I did last time," he said.

"I will play wherever I am put but I'd like to nail down a position this time. We will see what happens and I played in a midfield three against Swindon Supermarine.

"It's useful being versatile but it can also work against you. It just makes you work harder to try and be one of the first names on the team sheet, which I think I was last time I was here.

"There are little things that I am working on hard for the new season and I am going to try and change the way that I play in some ways.

"If I am honest, I think that I need to put on a bit more bulk to play in a midfield role and I've been working in the gym a lot.

"And I think that the whole squad has come back in really good shape, there wasn't one person that came back that had taken advantage of the summer!

"You normally expect one or two but the boys have been spot-on. The running has been hard but we've got through it and there's a really good team environment.

"We've just got to keep going, put the performances in and work hard to get the fitness for the start of the season."

Willmott is back at Rodney Parade after spells with Ebbsfleet, Bishop's Stortford and Chelmsford and celebrated his return to amber with a goal in the 4-3 success in Swindon, driving home a free-kick from the edge of the box.

The colours may be the same but this is a different Newport, he says.

"It's brilliant to be back in a County shirt and it feels like I never left to be honest," said Willmott, who has signed a two-year deal.

"It's quite familiar surroundings but the club is a lot different after a lot of people have gone with others coming in.

"I think the club as a whole is being run a lot better and from a player's point of view it's a lot more professional this year.

"When we got promoted everything had to be put into place quite quickly but now we've adapted well to the Football League and it's a really positive environment.

"It's good that the gaffer has only just finished because he sees things from a players' point of view as well as a manager's point of view.

"He has got a lot of knowledge after playing at a very good standard and also has a good team behind him in Wayne Hatswell and Lennie Lawrence."