Justin Edinburgh: Goal power can take us up (From South Wales Argus)

Justin Edinburgh: Goal power can take us up

7:50am Monday 18th February 2013 in Newport County By Andrew Penman

NEWPORT County AFC manager Justin Edinburgh believes his side’s incredible firepower can provide the edge in the Conference title race.

County moved to within two points of the Blue Square Bet Premier summit with a 3-1 win at Woking on Saturday thanks to two goals from Lee Minshull and one from Byron Anthony.

The Exiles are top scorers in the league, with 64 goals in 30 games, and Edinburgh is excited by the imminent return to fitness of leading marksman Aaron O’Connor and the prospect of unleashing Welsh Premier League hit man Rhys Griffiths on his rivals.

The former Llanelli goal king looks likely to play a part against AFC Telford United, and County should learn today how far away O’Connor and midfield lynchpin Max Porter are from a return.

“We’ve got to get them fit before we can start selecting them but what they give us is options,” said Edinburgh on O’Connor and Griffiths.

“I think Danny Crow and Christian Jolley have linked up well in the last few games but you need options.

“Rhys needs a week of training because he’s been away from Plymouth for a while. He’ll have a full week’s training with the players and be included in the squad for Saturday.

“We’ll know more on Aaron and Max on Monday when we get the scan results on their injuries but they are progressing well, there’ve been no setbacks so hopefully they won’t be too far away either.”

With Crow yet to rediscover his scoring touch, Edinburgh is delighted that goals are coming from all over the pitch.

“I’m pleased for Lee because he’s had to be patient,” he said. “He hasn’t played as many games as he’d have liked but he’s playing a key role right now. As long as we can keep spreading the goals out we’re unpredictable so I’m pleased for Lee and Byron.

“It was an excellent performance and a very good week for us with two fantastic wins against Mansfield and Woking,” he added.

“Before Tuesday night we were eight points adrift. We’ve cut that to two and this week was an important week with Wrexham and Grimsby not playing and it’s another good result against a good team.

“Woking had won their last four and beaten teams like Luton so we had to be right on our mettle and I think right from the off we were disciplined and we’re looking very good now.

“Games in hand only count if you win them and that’s what we had to do. I’m delighted for the players because they’ve worked hard and they’ve put themselves right back in the title race now.”