NEWPORT County AFC goalkeeper Jamie Stephens is relishing the prospect of facing his boyhood team Forest Green Rovers in the FA Cup on Saturday.

The one-time Rovers youth team keeper takes on the team he supported as a teenager after joining Gloucester City on a one-month loan deal from the Exiles.

Stephens replaces Forest Green's Paul White in the Tigers' goal as FA rulings denied White the chance to play against his parent club.

And the 21-year-old is looking forward to his FA Cup test in the fourth qualifying round tie at Cheltenham Town’s Whaddon Road.

“Having spent the vast majority of my childhood watching Forest Green at the old ground, it will be a strange yet exciting experience to play against my boyhood club,” Stephens told the Stroud News.

“I was at Forest Green for a year during my youth career and truly enjoyed my time there. It’s a wonderful club, but I can’t wait for my first taste of FA Cup action, it’s a competition you dream of playing in as a kid and I hope we (Gloucester) can get a result.”

Stephens came close to re-signing for Forest Green when he left Liverpool in the summer of 2013 but the lure of League Two football at Rodney Parade forced his hand.

He said: “After coming to an agreement to leave Liverpool at the end of last summer, I was in search of first team football and was very fortunate to be offered some excellent opportunities from a number of clubs. “Former Forest Green boss David Hockaday spoke to me, but in terms of playing time and to have the opportunity to play League football I couldn’t turn down Newport’s offer.”

Stephens hopes his time at City will work well for both parties.

“Gloucester has a wonderful history and is a club full of tradition," he said. "They’ve got some brilliant people involved here and when City boss Tim Harris spoke to Justin Edinburgh about the loan opportunity I jumped at the chance to get some game time following my injury.

“I’m truly grateful to Tim and Gloucester for giving me this chance and I’m looking to repay them in performances, starting against Forest Green this weekend.”