BOURNEMOUTH prospect Nathan Moriah-Welsh believes his loan spell at Newport County AFC is turning him from a boy into a man.
The midfielder has been a firm fixture in the Exiles side since heading to Rodney Parade from the Premier League Cherries in mid-August.
The 20-year-old has featured in all 28 games, 22 of them as a starter, and impressed with his energy and bite.
Moriah-Welsh was brought in by James Rowberry and, unlike Cardiff’s Chanka Zimba, West Ham’s Thierry Nevers and West Ham’s Hayden Lindley, who have gone back to their parent clubs, has remained a key figure under Graham Coughlan.
The young talent has trained regularly with Bournemouth’s first team over recent seasons, featured in a couple of matchday squads and played in a couple of FA Cup ties last year.
However, the Cherries sent him out to experience the rough and tumble of men’s football on a regular basis and Moriah-Welsh is reaping the rewards.
“I couldn’t have asked for anything more,” said the Guyana international. “I came in as a little boy from under-23s football at Bournemouth to a first-team environment.
“This is what I dreamed of, I am loving the games that I am playing. My thing has always been to go out and prove myself, a couple of clubs looked at me in the summer and felt that I hadn’t played enough games.
“Now I am getting them and I couldn’t have asked for more, I didn’t expect to play this many games and it’s been a real plus.
“I feel that I am getting better every game and in recent weeks I am feeling much more confident, with the gaffer giving me that confidence.”
Finn Azaz and Ollie Cooper enjoyed superb spells at County from Aston Villa and Swansea respectively.
Azaz is now with League One promotion hopefuls Plymouth on loan while Cooper is starring for the Swans, and was invited to join Wales at the World Cup with the aim of pushing into Robert Page’s squad for the next tournament cycle.
Moriah-Welsh also hopes to climb the ladder and is being left to learn by Bournemouth.
“They’ve given me a couple of calls here and there but my main focus has been on Newport,” he said about the Cherries, who are in a Premier League relegation scrap.
“The main thing is to concentrate on getting as many games as I can and help the club. It’s a football experience and a life experience. “
Moriah-Welsh is likely to be to the fore at Rodney Parade this afternoon as County attempt to build on their 0-0 draw with League Two leaders Leyton Orient.
The Exiles welcome strugglers Crawley to Newport (kick-off 3pm) with the aim of stretching further away from the relegation scrap.
“It was a strong performance against Orient and another point on the board,” said Moriah-Welsh.
“Sometimes we have one good game and then seem to take our foot off the gas so we have to go into this game against Crawley with a positive mindset to get three more points.
“There is lots to improve on from Leyton Orient but lots of positives, with even more to come. We can definitely push on in the second half of the season and push up the table.”
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