QUESTION: What do Newport County promotion seasons tend to have in common?

ANSWER: Experienced Welsh central defenders coming to add stability just when it is needed.

It happened in 2010 when Chris Todd joined the County and added some requisite experience to help Dean Holdsworth’s side to the Conference South title and it was déjà vu in 2012/13 when Byron Anthony signed for his hometown club and helped them to achieve their dream of a Football League return at Wembley Stadium.

And now, in 2014/15, we have not one but two experienced campaigners set to give Newport the push they need towards ascension, a fine omen.

Exiles manager Justin Edinburgh is being cautious on Blake and wants to see him in a development game, but it’s surely a no-brainer to bring the 14-time Wales cap back to Rodney Parade.

Despite having a played over 100 games for Cardiff City and once marking Wayne Rooney out of an international qualifier, Blake at 26-years old is almost obscenely one bus stop away from the football wilderness.

He’s far, far too talented to be in that situation and a return to the Exiles represents a fabulous chance for him to play 20 games and show the country he’s a top defender. It also helps Newport in their hour of need, injuries to Kevin Feely and a season-ender for Andrew Hughes leaving them short.

However, while like Todd and Anthony before him Blake can provide County’s good omen, it’s important to pay tribute to the man of the match at Cheltenham on Sunday, one of your own, Darren Jones.

The Newport boy who went away – figuratively from the club and literally in the slang sense – in 2005 and who has subsequently played well over 300 times for Forest Green, Hereford, Aldershot, Shrewsbury and Wimbledon before finally returning home in 2014.

Like Mike Flynn before him it’s a lovely conclusion to a stellar lower league career and Jones has proved to be an absolutely incredible signing, turning out performance after performance this season.

His understanding with Ismail Yakubu and constant communication has massively improved the Exiles defensively this term and at present, it’s hard to see a stronger candidate to be named County’s player of the first half of this season.