NEWPORT County AFC striker Frank Nouble is gunning for his old club Southend United tonight, admitting he’d love it if the Exiles managed to dump the Shrimpers out of the Carabao Cup.

The 25-year-old was released by Southend in May after failing to find the net in five substitute appearances and clashing with some of the club’s fans on social media.

But, after signing a one-year deal in June, Nouble got off the mark at the first time of asking as he scored County’s opening goal of the new League Two season in Saturday’s dramatic 3-3 draw at Stevenage.

And the striker is determined to make his former employers suffer at Roots Hall in tonight’s League Cup first round tie.

“If I’m playing I hope I score and I hope we win to stick it in them,” said the Chelsea academy graduate.

“There’s a lot of things that went on down there so I hope we can go out there and perform, not just for me but for the team as well.

“Everyone’s fully aware [of my feelings] and I want to go there and win.

“We believe we can do well there and we can go out and play with a bit of freedom against a team in a higher division that us.

“The main priority is the league but whatever team the manager puts out I’m sure we will go out there and try to get a result.”

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Nouble could have had a hat-trick on Saturday after missing a simple chance from close range and seeing a header superbly saved before he poked in the Exiles’ opener (above).

And the footballing nomad, who has had 15 clubs already in his career, revealed afterwards that he is targeting 20 goals in 40 games for Michael Flynn’s men this season.

“I’m feeling alright,” he said. “This is the first pre-season I’ve had in two years so I feel fit but match-fit is different.

“I’ve not really played a lot of games in the last year or so. It has been a bit difficult but I was happy to get 90 minutes on Saturday.

“I want to get 40 games in this year and obviously if I deserve it I’ll play.

“And if I get that then people can judge me properly on what I’ve done rather than being in and out.

“I want 20 goals this season. That’s the target and I think, from what I’ve seen already, we will create chances. It’s just about taking them.”

Explaining his first half miss after Matty Dolan’s free-kick rebounded off the post, Nouble said: “I was very lucky to get on the score sheet after my first chance.

“Joss Labadie put a great header across and I just got my foot in between the guy’s legs and pushed it in.

“I was happy with that but I should have scored in the first half. I think I tried to put too much power on it and it came off my shin.”