DEFENDER David Pipe believes Newport County AFC are in good shape for the new campaign after a testing pre-season schedule, writes Josh Thomas.

The 34-year-old right-back is starting his sixth season as a County player, having returned to the club in January 2017 after two-and-a-half years away

And, after triggering a contract extension last season, Pipe has started a new role in leading fitness work in training and in the warm-up before games.

“I am not really a pre-season game type of guy,” said the former Wales international, who is relishing the League Two opener at Mansfield Town this Saturday.

“I like pressure games but obviously you need to play friendlies. We need to get energy levels up.

“That doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter because every game should matter, when I am playing five-a-side in training it matters.

“I don’t like to lose anything but at the same time we’ve got to take the positives and sort out the negatives and we will be good to go.

“The first game probably makes it tougher. But we are ready, we are always ready.”

In his new strength and conditioning role, Pipe has played a big part in ensuring that the squad is ready to hit the ground running but he’s keen to keep contributing on the pitch as well despite competition from new signing Tyler Forbes.

“I kind of dipped in and out of it [the fitness role] last year if I am being totally honest,” he explained.

“It’s come more of a solid thing now, it’s an actual appointment. It is my role and it’s something that I am proud off. I am grateful for the club giving me that opportunity.

“Obviously I will keep on top of the playing side as well. It’s not the case of I am doing another role and it will take a bit away from the footballing side, not a chance,

“That is my mentality; that is the way I am and hopefully I can combine both roles very well.”

Fitness is important to Pipe but he insists the Exiles also have the talent to produce attractive football when the time is right.

“We are a high tempo team, we can be physical but we can also play some very good football,” he said.

“I think when people come to Rodney Parade they get sucked in to the whole long ball or whatever from a few years ago when the pitch wasn’t so good.

“But I am telling you now we can play football and we can get stuck in.

“I think we are defiantly strong ability-wise and we have added now, in the last couple of weeks, a lit bit more steel as well, which is a good combination to have.

“You have got to be able to mix it up – there’s no point being able to go ‘pass, pass, pretty, pretty’ if you are going away on a Tuesday night when it is hammering down with rain, it’s freezing cold and you have to stick a ball long.

“You have got to be able to do both and do them both at the right times. I am sure we can do that.”