Nelson Sanca has presence in abundance - Newport County boss

The first-year academy scholar was a beneficiary of the Exiles’ injury problems when he made his club debut in the 2-1 defeat to Tranmere in League Two on Saturday.

Sanca, who came through at Canton FC in Cardiff, had been an unused substitute on 16 occasions but finally got in on the action with a start at Rodney Parade.

County’s slump continued with the Rovers condemning them to a sixth loss on the spin but the youngster’s performance provided some cheer.

“Nelson was very good. That’s why we have given him the opportunity to be around us all season,” said manager Coughlan.

“He was a bright spark and was a positive out of this six-game streak along with Jac Norris [who came on for a third substitute appearance].

“We have created that pathway for the academy players and it’s up to them to walk along it and break into the first team. Nelson is a positive kid, a lovely lad and I am really pleased for him.

TUSSLE: Nelson Sanca on his Newport County debut (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“The big thing that you need to have as a centre-half is presence and Nelson has that in abundance, while he has something that I didn’t have in my career and that’s pace.

“He needs to keep working and developing and we need to find some game time for him, as we do for the lads that were on the bench and came on.”

County have dipped into their under-18s squad because of their injury crisis but Coughlan, as he has often stated this season, would like to see more development fixtures.

“We need to find proper and challenging opponents for them in regular games, we organised one at Bristol Rovers a few weeks ago but we need that regularly for player development,” he said.

“The likes of Kiban Rai have gone through this season without regular football and we need that game time to push them on.”

Sanca started and so did academy graduate Harrison Bright at right-back while forward Rai came off the bench along with midfielder Norris but Corey Evans and Morgan Evans were unused substitutes.

Teenage County midfielder Jac Norris (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“I was really pleased with what Jac has given us and I was really pleased with what I saw from Nelson,” said Coughlan.

“We’ve also got Kiban, Josh Seberry (who is close to a return after a broken leg in November) and Harrison, so we do have a few young lads that we want to keep pushing on and developing.

“There were a couple of lads, Morgan and Corey, who were on the bench and we have previously had Alfie Young and the goalkeeper Fraser Needham on it.

“We have opened the pathway up for the kids and I’ve said all season that one man’s misfortune is another’s opportunity.

“With us not having a big squad, that door is open for them and the ball is in their court to develop, push on and dedicate themselves towards a professional career.”

The youngsters will hope for more minutes against Salford in Newport on Saturday before the final day trip to Bradford City.