LOVE is the key to Omar Bogle hitting the goal trail for Newport County AFC, believes boss James Rowberry.

The striker scored on his Exiles debut with a powerful header in the 1-1 draw at Sutton United on opening weekend in League Two.

The 30-year-old went straight into the starting line-up after making a summer move from Hartlepool, with County paying an undisclosed fee to bring him to Rodney Parade.

Bogle fired Grimsby to League Two in 2016 and scored 32 goals in 68 games for the club to earn a move up the leagues to Wigan.

That was followed by a big-money move to Cardiff but he has since gone on his travels with Peterborough, Birmingham, Portsmouth, ADO Den Haag, Charlton, Doncaster and the Pools added to his CV.

However, Rowberry is confident that the powerful striker can help fill the void left by golden boot winner Dom Telford by settling in Newport.

South Wales Argus: CELEBRATION: Omar Bogle headed County level at SuttonCELEBRATION: Omar Bogle headed County level at Sutton

“I worked with him for three years at Cardiff when I was first team coach and I think I know how to get the best out of him, and he knows me,” said Rowberry.

“He knows how I operate and many, many moons ago if you’d taken Omar Bogle off with 10 minutes to go [at Sutton] he would be throwing his arms up in the air and questioning things!

“That shows his maturity and the way that he is now plus the respect that he has for me and my staff, we know that we will get the best out of him in the long-term.

“Love, that is the most important for Omar and giving him that trust. Wanting to do well for him and him wanting to do well for us.

“He knows that our love comes from a place of wanting him to develop to be the best that he can be.

“Sometimes you have got to give players that love to let them go on and progress and do well. I am confident that I will get the best out of Omar.”

Meanwhile, a County tradition has been maintained with former Premier League striker Wilfried Bony training with the Exiles.

The Ivory Coast international first linked up with the club in the summer of 2019 while mulling over his next move and has frequently returned since.

The Swansea favourite is back at Spytty Park after leaving NEC Nijmegen in the Dutch top flight.

“He’s not signing for us! It’s just because he is such a good guy and he is good to have around in training, we dip him in and out of certain sessions,” said Rowberry.

“He is good around the young lads, and the senior lads. He is a really good guy who can pass his experiences on.”

County made eight summer signings and are aiming to bring one more player, an attacking midfielder, in late in the window with the management team having a number of candidates for loan moves.