NEWPORT County AFC striker Antoine Semenyo has warned the defenders of League Two that he’s ready to fight fire with fire this season.

The 18-year-old has arrived at Rodney Parade on a season-long loan from Championship club Bristol City last week.

Semenyo made his Robins debut on the final day of last season having starred in the National League South during a loan spell with Bath City.

And the powerfully-built forward, who cites Chelsea legend Didier Drogba as his idol, cannot wait to lock horns with the grizzled centre-backs in the fourth tier this season.

Speaking to iFollowExiles, Semenyo said: “I’d like to think that I can handle the physicality of League Two. I feel like I’m ready for all defenders in League Two, I’m coming!

“I would like to think of myself as a striker who is very powerful, give me a chance and I’ll score,” he added.

“My message to the fans for next season is that I’m ready, I’ll give the fans all I’ve got.

“I can’t wait to show it on the pitch now really. I’m so ready for this, I just want to get the season started with, to be honest.”

County fans should get their first sight of Semenyo in this afternoon’s pre-season friendly at Hereford (kick-off 3pm) and he’s looking forward to linking up with fellow strikers Padraig Amond, Jamille Matt and Momodou Touray.

“To be honest, I prefer to play in a two so that I can have someone that I can play off,” he explained.

“It allows me to go in behind, come deep so I’d have to say that I’m pretty used to that really.

“I’m looking forward to building positive relationships with the other strikers at the club.”

Exiles boss Flynn believes Semenyo’s “raw appetite” will help him become a big success.

“Antoine got half an hour [at Swansea] and he looked strong, as I knew he would do,” said the manager.

“He worked hard and it’s very positive. I’m looking forward to him getting some more minutes under his belt and going again on Saturday.”

Flynn has tracked Semenyo’s progress since the beginning of the year and he’s delighted to get the deal over the line.

“I spoke to Bristol about him at the end of last season when he was on loan at Bath,” he explained.

“He’s very strong for his age. Physically he’s all there and when we played against them last week he was quite aggressive and got stuck in.

“He’s got that raw appetite and he wants to succeed and that’s the kind of player we need at this football club.

“He’s a really nice lad and he just wants to learn and keep improving.”

Semenyo will hope to match the success of fellow Bristol City striker Shawn McCoulsky, who scored 11 goals during his loan spell at Rodney Parade last season.

“He’s a different player to Shawn, he’s more physical,” said Flynn.

“Shawn did really well for us, he scored 11 goals and you can’t knock that but he’s more of a reactive striker.

“Antoine is more physical and it’s going to be interesting to see him playing in a competitive environment.

“I would say he’s an out and out striker and I think we’ve got to be fair to him and play him up front but needs must at times and he’s a willing lad so I’m sure he’ll give all whatever position he’s asked to play in.

“Bristol think really highly of him and that’s why they’ve just given him a new deal,” he added.

“They don’t hand out new deals willy nilly. He’s someone that they’re really positive about.”

Flynn also revealed that he tried to get McCoulsky back to Newport but the striker, whose 2017-2018 campaign was ended by a bout of pericarditis, is heading to another club.

“We asked them about Shawn as well but I think he’s going elsewhere,” he said.

“We’d be silly not to want him back – he scored 11 goals last season and would have fitted in really nicely with the ones we’ve already got.

“As soon as he gets the all-clear I think he’ll be going elsewhere.

“I saw him down at Bristol and he was in good spirits as he always is. It was good to catch up and I want him to do well because he’s a smashing lad and I want him to kick on again.”