NEWPORT County AFC today signed 20-year-old striker Conor Washington for a ‘nominal fee’ from St Ives Town.

Washington scored 52 goals in just 50 games for the Cambridgeshire side in the United Counties Football League Premier Division last season.

He had a trial with Championship club Peterborough United, talked to League Two Dagenham & Redbridge, and underwent a medical at Blue Square Bet Premier rivals Cambridge United.

But the Exiles have swooped to add him to their impressive strikeforce alongside Conference top scorer Aaron O’Connor and fellow forwards Jefferson Louis, Danny Crow, Jake Harris and Ryan Charles.

After agreeing a contract up until the end of the 2013/14 season with the player, manager Justin Edinburgh said: "I’m delighted that the chairman has backed me again and enabled us to bring in Conor, who has a superb goalscoring record."

Washington comes highly recommended by his strike partner at St Ives last season.

Junior McDougald, a former professional at Brighton, Dagenham & Redbridge, Millwall, Rotherham and Chesterfield, said: "There are times when I have stood back and laughed at what Conor has done. He’s like the kid in the playground doing exactly what he wants. Make no mistake he’s the real deal."