NEWPORT County AFC great Padraig Amond has hailed the impact of Lewis Collins, declaring the energetic young forward has given the promotion hopefuls a different dimension.

The Exiles kick off the League Two play-offs with the first leg against Forest Green Rovers at Rodney Parade on Tuesday (kick-off 8.15pm).

It will be a surprise if Michael Flynn doesn’t stick with the combination of Amond’s experience and Collins’ exuberance up front.

The County manager tinkered with his strike partnership all season until the run-in when he fielded the duo for the last five games on the spin.

They might not have produced the goals, with Collins’ effort against Scunthorpe their solitary strike, but they set the tone with their work rate to help the Exiles secure a top-seven finish.

Amond believes his young strike partner, who turned 20 last Sunday and will face his older brother Aaron in the play-offs, has come of age.

01.05.21 - Newport County v Cheltenham Town - SkyBet League 2 -.Lewis Collins of Newport County tries a shot at goal..

01.05.21 - Newport County v Cheltenham Town - SkyBet League 2 -.Lewis Collins of Newport County tries a shot at goal..

“Lewis was brilliant in the run-in and it all came off the back of his work in training,” said the Irishman.

“He is really good to play with because of his energy and the two of us have fed off each other, plus that energy has been infectious for the others. We are defending really well as a team and not giving the opposition a break.

“He was on the periphery of the team for most of the season and then, bang, all of a sudden he knows what his job is and we are getting to see the real Lewis Collins.

“He is a very talented player and there is plenty more in him. He has been around the first team for a while and played more as a winger or number 10 in his age-grade career.

“But we have seen with his energy up front that he can get all over the pitch and is not confined to just one side.

“He can make runs, carries the ball, has good delivery, gets in good positions and the goal against Scunthorpe will do him the power of good. Lewis is something different to what we have with his pace.”

Collins travelled with the County squad to Wembley in 2019 when with the academy and made his Football League debut last season.

He started against Swansea in the Carabao Cup upset that kicked off 2020/21 but suffered an injury on Wales Under-21 duty in October.

It was a frustrating season for the prospect until his training ground graft earned a chance from Flynn.

01.05.21 - Newport County v Cheltenham Town - SkyBet League 2 -.Ben Tozer of Cheltenham Town is tackled by Lewis Collins of Newport County..

01.05.21 - Newport County v Cheltenham Town - SkyBet League 2 -.Ben Tozer of Cheltenham Town is tackled by Lewis Collins of Newport County..

“We’ve always know that he has the talent and sometimes you forget how young he is because he has been around the squad for so long,” said Amond.

“It’s been a slow process for him because of some injuries at bad times but everyone has noticed how good he has been recently and been full of praise.

“But we are also keeping him grounded, because he has a lot more to do. Lewis can go on to be as good as he wants to be – I’d love to have some of his attributes – and if we can help educate him on and off the field then we will.”