TAKING on the mighty Manchester City in the FA Cup with Newport County AFC has only served to fuel Regan Poole’s appetite for more of the same at Old Trafford.

Poole, on loan at the Exiles from City’s Manchester rivals United, has made just one brief substitute appearance for the Red Devils.

Now back in the amber of County, the club he left to join United in September 2015, defender Poole is winning rave reviews for his performances in league and cup.

He again stood out during Saturday’s fifth-round tie on the bobbly Rodney Parade pitch, and the Welshman remains hopeful of finally being able to break into the first team at his parent club.

“I’m still at Manchester United and I want to be in their first team, that’s my aim,” he said after County’s 4-1 defeat to Pep Guardiola’s superstars.

“I want to be playing in games like that week in, week out, and that’s always been my aim since I’ve been there.

“Hopefully that can happen one day.”

As for the clash with City, Poole added: “As soon as we got back in the game it was heartbreak (when City made it 3-1), we were gutted.

“We could have had a strong 10 minutes and maybe got after them to get another one, but their third goal killed us.

“We felt the longer the game went on, the more we had a chance. We did well to stick in there in the first half and they scored quite early in the second half which took the sting out of the game for us.

“But as soon as we got that goal to go 2-1 we had a bit of belief again and we felt like we could go and get another one.

“I think everyone should be proud of themselves.”