COUNTY V YORK (FA Trophy final, Saturday, Wembley, KO 3pm)

NEWPORT academy graduate Andrew Hughes believes his rise and rise in the game can be an inspiration to every football obsessed youngster in the city.

The 20-year old has made an extraordinary impact with the Exiles in the past 18 months since joining from the Cardiff City academy and has played more competitive games for Newport this season than any other player.

Already a Welsh schoolboy international the left back is being tipped for a future move higher up the football pyramid after being scouted several times already this season.

But for now the man nicknamed ‘Tiger’ is only focused on the big game at Wembley – and he hopes he can give plenty of aspiring footballers the inspiration they need to make it in the game.

“To get to Wembley at my age especially is phenomenal, some of the best players in the world don’t ever get to play there,” he said.

“If I get in the team on the day it’ll be an honour, I just want to play, that’s all I’ve ever wanted.

“Hopefully someone will think I am setting an example, I’ve come through the academy and I owe people like Glyn Jones (academy director) a debt of gratitude.

“Now I am off to Wembley, even walking through the tunnel, I’m really looking forward to it. It’s every kids’ dream and I am showing you can live that.”

The youngster admits he owes a huge debt to County’s director of football Tim Harris who gave him his big opportunity during a caretaker manager spell last season and the new boss who has kept the faith in the prospect.

“With Dean (Holdsworth, manager who took County into the Conference before joining Aldershot) I was out in the sticks, he didn’t really give me chance,” he said.

“But Tim Harris gave me my chance and since then I think I have taken it.

“And now of course with the gaffer, it’s perfect for my development because he was a Premier League left back. He’s not afraid to give me little tips and I try and learn from everything he says to me.”

Hughes isn’t concerned about talk of a move elsewhere.

“Since January it’s been nice to play, I’ve not worried about the talk, but I know if I do my job the rest will take care of itself,” he said.

“You’ve seen in the past year, players (Craig Reid, Danny Rose and Paul Bignot) joining Football League clubs, some excellent players have come through here,” he said..

“But it’s not just that, we are developing them too. Lee Evans is going to be superb, hopefully I’ve done well, we want to be back in the Football League and producing young players is only going to help make that happen.”