NEWPORT County AFC striker Jamille Matt is hoping his two goals in midweek are enough to earn him a starting spot for this afternoon’s League Two clash with Cambridge United at Rodney Parade.

Matt’s brace against Chelsea under-21s in the Checkatrade Trophy means he is now County’s top scorer with four goals so far this season – the same total he managed in 36 games for Grimsby Town in 2017-2018.

The 28-year-old has only started four of the nine league fixtures so far this term as he’s been managing an ankle injury.

And a knock to the ankle denied him a chance of a hat-trick on Tuesday as he was forced off late on but he’s fit and ready to go if he gets the nod today.

“I was happy to get two goals and a good result the other night,” said Matt.

“I’ve had an ankle injury for a couple of weeks now. It’s something I’ve been trying to play through and I just aggravated slightly on Tuesday but I’m fit and raring to go."

Matt has been behind Padraig Amond, Mark Harris and Antoine Semenyo in the pecking order in recent weeks and he's hoping to change that but he understands the dilemmas that manager Michael Flynn faces.

“It’s a squad game and I’d like to play but if the gaffer doesn’t choose me then I’ll be happy to support the squad and be a part of it," he said.

“We need everyone together. At the minute that’s what’s getting us results so we’ve got to continue to buy into that.

“I want to play but so do 20 other players. I think the gaffer has got his hands full trying to pick the side.”

Today is the Exiles’ first league match at Rodney Parade since the shock 6-0 beating against Yeovil Town a fortnight ago.

Matt and teammates have bounced back with a 1-0 win at Tranmere Rovers and Tuesday’s Trophy victory and they’re aiming to keep that run going today.

“We had a result that we obviously weren’t happy with but we got a reaction to that,” said the striker, who also scored in County’s 4-1 Carabao Cup win at Cambridge last month.

“We’ve had two wins since [Yeovil] and we’ll be looking to make it a third win on the trot.

“But I know Cambridge will want to beat us. It will be similar to when we play Yeovil next. We’ll want to avenge that defeat and they’ll be coming here trying to put one over on us.”

Flynn’s men start the day in third place in the table but Matt is taking nothing for granted against the 19th-placed U’s.

“The big thing is to not get carried away,” he said. “It’s only a start and there are a lot of games to go. We’re doing well at the minute but it’s a very long season.

“We’re going to have blips and we just have to stick together when we do.

“There are things that we need to work on but at the same time we need to keep that confidence and belief that we can stay at the top end of the table.”

County v Cambridge: page 39