NEWPORT County AFC top scorer Tristan Abrahams will enjoy a hard-earned rest this weekend before gearing up for next week’s “massive” FA Cup replay with Grimsby Town.

Abrahams is on a real high after taking his goal tally to eight for the season with a superb hat-trick in Tuesday’s 7-4 win at Cheltenham Town in the Leasing.com Trophy.

The 20-year-old will have to wait until next Wednesday to return to action as this weekend’s League Two match at Grimsby has been postponed due to international call-ups for Tom King, Danny McNamara and Keanu Marsh-Brown.

And Abrahams is relishing the chance to take on the Mariners again in the cup replay at Rodney Parade.

Speaking to iFollowExiles after the win at Cheltenham, he said: “It was my first professional hat-trick so I’m buzzing to get that – I love scoring goals.

“All I want to do is score goals and to get a hat-trick is what you dream of as a striker, my first pro one so hopefully it’s the first of many, many more.

“I just want to build on this now, I know I’m not going to be able to score hat-tricks every week but I definitely want to take confidence from this game and build upon it to pick up some form ahead of a good run of games.

“We’ve been struggling to score goals recently so to get seven goals means everyone is buzzing with it. It seems like it clicked in this game so hopefully we build on it in the next game.”

South Wales Argus:

The former Norwich City forward will put his feet up this weekend but he’s determined to pick up where he left off next Wednesday.

“I’m going to use the weekend off to recharge ready for the busy schedule we’ve got coming up over the Christmas period,” he said.

“We know that we’ve got to beat Grimsby Town first before we think about anything else.

“I think it’s a massive game. You never know what you’re going to get in the FA Cup. Everyone knows it’s a special competition and it just depends on who is the better team on the day.

“It was a frustrating performance [last Saturday], knowing we were the better side and should have won the game.

“But I’m just buzzing we’re still in the competition and have the opportunity to give it another go next week.

“Now we’re going back to Rodney Parade so hopefully we can get the win and go from there.”

Abrahams added: “I think it’s also important that we get as many supporters there as possible to cheer us on because they help us massively with every game they’re there."

Abrahams has been nominated for the player of the round in the Trophy, but he also paid tribute to teammates Corey Whitely and Dominic Poleon and to fellow hat-trick hero Taylor Maloney.

“Working with Corey and Dom made my job so much easier, the goals I did get came from Dom helping me out and Corey got two assists.

“And I’m buzzing for Taylor as well. It was a pleasure to play with them and they made my job easy.”

Fans have until midnight on Monday to register their votes for the award at EFL.com/playeroftheround.

Meanwhile, right-back McNamara made his debut for the Republic of Ireland under-21s in yesterday’s 1-0 win in Armenia.

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