Shawn McCoulsky eager to make up for lost time at Rodney Parade

The 20-year-old striker, who is on loan from Bristol City until January, enjoyed a superb start in a County shirt with three goals in his first two appearances.

McCoulsky netted a dramatic late equaliser in the 3-3 draw at Stevenage on the opening day of the League Two campaign (below) before bagging a brace in the Carabao Cup win at Southend United three days later.

But a minor injury and the signing of Padraig Amond have combined to limit his time on the pitch since then.

McCoulsky has not started a match since the Carabao Cup defeat at Leeds United on August 22.

But he did come off the bench at Luton Town on Saturday and he will attempt to push his case for a starting spot in training this week ahead of the home clash with Yeovil Town.

“Everyone wants to play,” he told iFollow Exiles.

“I got off to a very good start, scoring three goals in two games but then picked up a little niggle on my hip-flexor which kept me out for a while.

“When I was ready to return, the team was doing very well. Frank [Nouble] was scoring, Podge was scoring so as a striker it was going to be tough to get back in.

“It is good having five attacking options because everyone wants to play for a place so when someone slips up, there is an opportunity for you and you just have to keep working hard and keep grafting in training.

“I just have to keep training hard and then when I get my opportunity then I have to take it and try to get back into that team.”

McCoulsky could not inspire an Exiles fightback in the final 12 minutes at Kenilworth Road (above) but he has set himself clear targets for his time at the club.

“It was kind of tough for me but I just have to try and impact on the game as much as possible in the future,” he added.

“Every year I set myself targets which I’d rather keep to myself but definitely as a striker there’s a goal target and also to help the team.

“With goals come wins so we have to try to do that as much as possible.”

McCoulsky is looking forward to playing at Rodney Parade this coming Saturday if he gets the opportunity.

The youngster has only been on the pitch for around seven minutes at home so far after replacing Amond late on in the victory over Grimsby Town on September 23.

“It will be good to return home next week in front of our fans,” said McCoulsky.

“We’ve been very good at home, we haven’t lost there so hopefully we can keep that run going and keep pushing on.

“It will be good to have a week’s rest and then obviously go into Saturday’s game fresh,” he added.

“We just have to go into the match like our previous games, which we have won, and forget about this game [at Luton].

“We need to leave it behind and try and go as strong as we can.”