MIDFIELDER Josh Sheehan again had to sit and watch as Newport County AFC claimed victory at Grimsby Town on Saturday but he’s remaining patient.

After 10 months out with a serious knee injury, the 22-year-old is desperate to pull on a County shirt again and get back to action.

Sheehan enjoyed a successful loan move from Swansea City to the Exiles last season and now that he’s made the switch permanently he wants to show that he can recapture that form.

And, after watching from the bench as County beat Leeds United in the FA Cup last week and Grimsby Town in League Two on Saturday, his next chance comes against Crawley Town on Friday night.

Sheehan is hoping to see some action as he aims for a fresh start at Rodney Parade after 12 years at Swansea.

“Hopefully here it’s like a rebirth – I’m not the boy I was at Swansea, I can be a man here,” he said.

“I want to play every game possible I know the manager and I like him and he likes me so it was an easy decision to sign an 18-month deal.”

But Sheehan knows that he will have to fight for a starting spot as Michael Flynn’s men push for promotion after last season’s Great Escape from relegation.

“I think it’s a very strong squad; there’s almost two in every position now,” he said.

“I think it’s really strong physically and we can play as well so it suits me and hopefully we can push for promotion.

“I kept in contact with most of the boys through the summer and I’ve been to watch a few games,” added Sheehan, who returned to Swansea for treatment in March last year.

“I was watching the last day of the season and what was happening at Hartlepool on TV and it was incredible.

“And it just shows what a few wins at the start of the season can do for you.

“The confidence is there now and you can just keep going and you never know how far we can go.”

Sheehan also has high hopes for defender Tyler Reid, who joined on loan from Swansea last week and made his debut as a substitute at Grimsby.

“Tyler is a good player,” he said. “I’ve played with him a few times at Swansea and we’re close.

“We’re sharing lifts so hopefully he’ll settle in quick and he can get in the team as well.”