NEWPORT County AFC manager Graham Westley insists he would be surprised if loan stars Josh Sheehan and Rhys Healey were recalled by their parent clubs in January.

Swansea City midfielder Sheehan and Cardiff City striker Healey have scored 10 goals between them in the last six matches and helped County off the bottom of League Two.

Both loan deals currently run until January and the duo’s form will have caught the eye of the Exiles’ Welsh neighbours.

But Westley believes both would benefit from a whole season at Rodney Parade.

“I have to say that Josh and Rhys will undoubtedly in the future go on and play at a higher level,” he said.

“How high is in their hands. If they keep improving at the rate they’re improving at they both could play at the very top level.

“Certainly Rhys could expect to go back to Cardiff in the future and play at Championship level and Josh could expect to go back to Swansea and play in the Premier League.

“I’ve got no doubt about either of the two boys. They’re at an early stage in their development, I think that’s obvious.

“Both of them are learning lots and I think both of them are improving lots.

“But the job of work at their parent clubs is Championship and Premier League football and they need to go on another level to get to there.

“So I’d be surprised if either of them were recalled in January.

“I think a season here will do them both well but we’ll see. It’s not for me to dictate to their parent clubs what’s right or wrong for them.

“I think both boys are enjoying their football and improving and starting to show what they can do.

“And hopefully with a good season under their belts in League Two, and hopefully a successful season, I’d be very surprised if both of them aren’t competing for a first team shirt at their parent clubs next season.”

Healey has already stated his intention to push for a place in the Cardiff first team but Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock is believed to be happy to let him develop at Rodney Parade.

Sheehan says he doesn’t know what Swansea are thinking but he’s loving life in Newport at the moment.

“I’ve never had a run anywhere near this so I’m just going to keep it going hopefully,” he said after his fifth goal in six games in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Notts County.

Asked about the Swans, he said: “You’ll have to ask them really. We’ll see what happens in the next few weeks.

“The ball is in their court. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing. I’m enjoying my football here so I’ll keep going.”

Westley has talked of the 21-year-old emulating Wales star Aaron Ramsey over the past two weeks and Sheehan admits he’s flattered by the comparison.

“It’s a very good compliment,” he said. “Obviously Aaron Ramsey is at the top of the game. He’s at Arsenal and he’s a Welsh international and he’s one of the best midfielders in the world.

“So I’ll take that as a compliment but I’m not going to copy the way he plays. I’ll just play my own game.”