CAPTAIN Joss Labadie has declared himself fit for the start of the season after shaking off concerns over his recovery from a wrist injury.
The midfielder, who was confirmed as club captain by manager Michael Flynn yesterday, had an operation to fix a long-standing problem in May.
He missed the Exiles’ opening pre-season friendlies and coach Wayne Hatswell suggested there was a doubt over his readiness for the League Two opener at Stevenage on August 5.
But Labadie played 45 minutes against Gloucester City last Saturday and 75 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Swansea City under-23s on Wednesday.
And the 26-year-old, who is set to feature against Northampton Town this afternoon, is certain that he will be ready to hit the ground running next Saturday.
“I’ve got the cast on, which is not ideal, but I’ve had the operation now and I’ve got the wires in there until Monday.
“I still have to wear the cast after that but I’ll get on with it and if it means I’ll be playing the first game of the season then it’s not a problem.
“I’m slightly ahead of schedule in terms of recovery and I’m declaring myself fit for the first game of the season.
“It was a difficult summer,” he added. “I like to work on my upper body but I’ve not been able to do that for the last six months because I was playing the last three months of the season with snapped ligaments and cartilage in my wrist.
“I just worked on lower body during the summer and since I’ve come back in I’ve not been able to do some of the gym sessions but I’ve taken part in the football sessions, which is good.
“I’ve not played as many minutes as most of the boys but I’m up to speed.
“I’ve been training every day and doing pretty much everything they’ve done so I’m back on track.”
After displaying some fine finishing at yesterday’s open training session, the skipper is even setting himself an ambitious goal target for the season.
“It would be nice to get eight goals,” he said. “I think that’s good for a midfielder and I’ll take that if I have a full season.”
Watch Joss Labadie surprise County fan Jacob with his 2017/18 Season Ticket!
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Labadie was a key man as the Exiles escaped relegation under Flynn last season and he believes the experience will set the team in good stead for the new campaign.
“I think it has instilled a bit of belief that we can match the best teams in the league, like we did towards the back end of last season and we’re going into this season more confident than ever,” he said.
“I’m very confident we won’t struggle like last season. It’s a completely different set-up to what it was at this time last year.
“We’ve got a better team, better players and the morale and the mood in the camp is very good.
“We’ll be looking to get a good start and aiming as high as possible in the league.”
A fast start may prove difficult with five of the first six league matches away from home but Labadie is unconcerned.
“Home or away it shouldn’t make much difference,” he said.
“Obviously it’s great playing at Rodney Parade like it was at the end of last season with all the fans supporting us.
“But we’re professionals and we’ll go to the away games with the same mind-set as we would have at home so I shouldn’t think it would make much difference.”
On retaining the captain’s armband, Labadie said: “It’s an honour to play for the club and to be captain as well is something I enjoy doing and I’ve always wanted to do.
“I don’t think the armband changes my game. Whether I’m captain or not I try to acquit myself in the right way, do the right things and be as professional as I can on and off the pitch.
“But I’m happy to be named captain again and I look forward to a successful season.”
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