ASHLEY Baker has been a fringe figure in Newport County AFC’s promotion push but the defender's response is fight and not flight.

The 24-year-old from Bridgend has had to settle for life on the bench this season after Liam Shephard’s arrival at Rodney Parade.

Baker signed from Sheffield Wednesday in January but has made just eight starts, firstly because of the coronavirus pandemic and then because of the form of his rival down the right flank.

Shephard signed in September after being released by Forest Green Rovers and has made 27 appearances, with his energy down the right a feature of the flying start to League Two.

Baker has played just six times with three of those outings in the EFL Trophy but he won’t be banging on Michael Flynn’s door to demand a move.

“I love it here and commit my future here. I am happy to be here,” said the former Wales Under-21s international, who came through the Cardiff City set-up before moving to the Owls.

South Wales Argus:

But don’t confuse happiness in Newport with contentment at being a bit-part player.

The door was opened on Saturday when Ryan Haynes suffered a head injury against Salford, leading to Baker’s introduction after 16 minutes with Shephard switching to the left.

“I was buzzing to get on. I’ve been patient and have worked hard, the chance came and hopefully done enough to stay in the team,” said the defender, who is hunting a start rather than cameo against Cheltenham on Tuesday night.

“I had a similar experience before [at Sheffield Wednesday] but I just keep giving 100 per cent every day, the gaffer knows that I am an honest lad.

“I get on well with Liam, normally when you are both in the same position you don’t like each other but we get on really well! We push each other.

“This is what the squad is there for. You have to be ready and take your chance when the time comes.

“I am versatile – I can play right-back, centre-half, central midfield if I have to. I will be happy to play wherever.”

South Wales Argus:

County make the short trip to Cheltenham knowing that they will return to the top of the table with victory.

Baker feels they should have been given the opportunity to do that at the weekend after battling with 10 men against Salford for half an hour before a late push.

“We dug deep when we went down to 10 men and it looked like it should have been a penalty at the end and the chance to nick all three points,” said the defender, referring to Mickey Demetriou being taken down in the box.

“But it was a decent point; we will take any clean sheet and move onto the next one.

“The way that we finished showed the character of the squad, we will keep going until the ref blows. We’ve got a good group of boys and we keep on fighting.

“Cheltenham is going to be a tough one but we will go there confident, so hopefully we can take all three points.”

County will head to Gloucestershire with a hole to fill following Josh Sheehan’s dismissal but Baker is confident that there are midfielders that share his desire to take an opening.

“Josh will be a big miss because he is a good player but we have good enough players to step in and fill his boots. Somebody else would snap your hand off to play,” he said.