DEFENDER Kevin Feely is convinced that the current Newport County AFC squad is better than last season and says the prospect of a relegation battle has not even entered the players’ heads.

In fact, Feely is convinced that once the Exiles earn their first win there won’t be many teams in League Two who will be able to match them.

Terry Butcher’s men are currently 23rd in League Two with just one point from four games following Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat against leaders Leyton Orient.

It is exactly the same record that Justin Edinburgh’s side had at this stage 12 months ago before they won at Portsmouth on August 29.

Feely is hoping that history can repeat itself when County travel to the south coast to play Plymouth this Saturday and he says the current crop could even improve on last year’s ninth-place finish.

“It’s frustrating because it’s the same thing every week at the moment,” said the Irish centre-back.

“We look a really good team but the same mistakes are costing us in every game.

“It was easy to be positive after the first three games but when it happens for the fourth time it starts getting a bit annoying.

“In the changing room the gaffer was angry and we were angry but we’re still not even close to feeling ‘this is going to be a long season.’

“It doesn’t feel remotely like that. It just feels like once we get that first win, which we are going to get soon, we are going to be hard to stop.

“Once we get a bit of momentum, the way we cut teams open, there’s not many that are going to live with us in League Two.

“There’s no sense of doom and gloom whatsoever,” he added.

“I’m not worried. I felt we were more consigned to a relegation battle this time last year than we are now, even though we had a much more experienced squad then.

“And the fact that we came out of it all guns blazing then makes me think we can do the same again, and maybe do even better.”

Feely returned from a thigh injury to face Orient and says he is close to being fully fit.

“I was struggling there in the last 20 minutes because I had no pre-season games but I’m getting there now,” he said.

“I’m more or less 100 per cent fit now and it’s just a matter of getting some game time and getting my legs back.”

During his enforced absence Feely was impressed by the performances of teenagers Regan Poole and Kieran Parelle in central defence.

“We spoke a lot about Regan last year and Kieran has come in and done well too,” added the 22-year-old.

“He’s a completely different player to Regan in that he’s so enthusiastic and eager to go and win every first ball, which is a brilliant trait in a young guy.

“He’s really strong and good in the air for someone who’s not the tallest and he’s got a good left foot.

“I think he’s got huge potential and the more games he plays the more he’ll learn about when to go and when to drop off.

"He’ll get a bit more nous in his game and be a really good player."