Newport adapting to life without Scott Twine and Brandon Cooper

The Exiles are second in League Two, a point back on Cambridge, but are 20th in the form guide after picking up four points from their last six games.

For context, the last two fixtures have been against promotion rivals Salford and Cheltenham with the spoils shared on both occasions.

It means that County remain right in the mix for League One with goalkeeper King confident they can build on their hard work.

“If you had said at the start of the season that we’d be second with two games in hand then nobody would have believed you,” said the stopper. “We realised in the first three or four games that we had something special.”

Nonetheless, County’s supporters’ nerves stem from two of the star men from the first half of the campaign returning to their parent clubs.

King, who has won back his starting spot from Nick Townsend, admits that the Exiles have to adapt without their hot prospects from Swindon Town and Swansea City.

TALENT: Scott Twine starred for Newport

“We have lost some real quality in Scott Twine – every day I am reading the new rumour about the next Championship club he’s going to – and Brandon Cooper has been extremely unlucky to hurt his ankle,” he said.

“They are two Championship-quality players in our starting 11 that we have lost, so we have got to adapt and find other ways to win.

“But we are on the right track and the lads are showing unbelievable fighting spirit.

“I know that the goals aren’t flowing at the moment but we are working on that every day and I have got the feeling that they will be like London busses, when one comes along two, three or four will follow.

“We are just finding our rhythm again and when we have it we will be right back up there.”

King opened the scoring at Cheltenham on Tuesday night when his goal-kick caught the wind and bounced over his opposite number.

The Wales squad keeper was beaten on the stroke of half-time by Matty Blair’s drive to deny County a first win since December 8.

“It is a sign of how far that we have come as a team because last season we would have been delighted with a point but this time we are all a bit disappointed that we couldn’t take all three,” said King.

“We have taken points from really good teams in Salford and Cheltenham and have been disappointed after the game.

“Now we will be looking to improve against a team that we owe.”

That is against Oldham Athletic, who sit 16th in the table but stunned County 4-2 at Rodney Parade in December.

The Latics triumphed thanks to a pair of late goals after Padraig Amond saw a penalty saved.