NEWPORT County boss Justin Edinburgh insists his “mentally strong,” charges won’t crumble like they did last season.

The Exiles face high-flying Bury at Gigg Lane on Saturday having incredibly lost just one of their last fourteen league contests.

They are within striking distance of the play-offs after a slow start saw them lose their opening three games, with their position similar to what it was 12 months ago.

However, in their debut season, County collapsed after Christmas due to a combination of factors, with Edinburgh conceding for the first time that mental fragility played a part, not something he’s concerned about this time around.

The boss believes results such as Sunday – when Newport came back from 2-0 down to draw with Exeter – highlights their new-found resilience.

“The character of the team is far greater than it was last season, we’ve had several times where we’ve come from behind to get a win or to get points and that wasn’t something we found very difficult last year,” he told Argus Sport.

“That shows we have a better group in terms of their mentality and their temperament.

“It’s given us a good lift, we’ve had another good week and honestly, this season I feel we have one or two stronger characters in the group that last season.

“That gives us that belief, collectively we feel like we are mentally tougher and I feel it’s just generally a better group, the quality is better than last season as well and some players, like Max Porter and Aaron O’Connor, aren’t even at full fitness yet.”

Edinburgh expects a tough test at promotion contenders Bury.

“They are one of the favourites, certainly in terms of their wage bill you would have them right up there,” he said.

“They haven’t hidden from that fact; they have very good home form and will expect success.

“But we always knew November was a very testing month, other than losing two goals at Hartlepool, we are happy with how it has gone so far.”

The Exiles welcome back Mark Byrne for Saturday’s trip to Gigg Lane and have no new injury problems. “We could be close to being full strength apart from the long-term injuries,” Edinburgh confirmed.

County will continue to wait on Curtis Obeng, with discussions with Swansea ongoing about extending his loan. The Exiles have until midday on Saturday to register him to play at Bury.