Stoke prospect Matt Baker making an impression at Newport County

It’s early days but the Wales Under-21s international has made an impression after heading for his first taste of senior football on loan from Stoke City.

County were on the fringes of the relegation scrap when Baker made the move from the Potteries but an unbeaten February has them close to being safe.

The 20-year-old has played his part in that with a lively cameo in the comeback against Stevenage, a strong effort as one of the half-time subs that fought back at Walsall then a first start in the dramatic win at Hartlepool.

Baker is on the books of a Championship club so clearly has the talent but County boss Graham Coughlan wanted to know more than that when looking for cover after central defender Declan Drysdale’s knee injury.

He picked the brains of his former Shrewsbury Town teammate David Hibbert, who is loans manager at Stoke, and got the deal done.

Signed as a defender, Baker has started life in League Two as a defensive midfielder.

County boss Graham Coughlan congratulates Matt Baker after the win in Hartlepool (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“Matt is a great kid and his versatility and mobility was one of the reasons why we brought him in,” said Coughlan, who was a central defender.

“He is learning his trade and we had him watched like all the loanees, and I was struck by his character and leadership.

“Matt has a presence and I felt that he would fit into our changing room with his work rate, attitude and commitment.

“We did a lot of homework on him and had constant dialogue with Dave Hibbert – it was a no-brainer because of the predicament with Declan and with Matty Dolan leaving.”

As is shown by bookings against Stevenage and Hartlepool for heavy challenges, Baker isn’t shy of getting stuck in against more experienced opponents.

At Victoria Park on Tuesday he had a shot, made 28 passes (similar to Scot Bennett), made four tackles (third highest tally), two interceptions, a clearance, a block and won an aerial duel.

Coughlan says it will he “horses for courses” about playing Baker in midfield rather than his usual defensive role and, with the back three of James Clarke, Priestley Farquharson and Mickey Demetriou looking solid, will have a patient approach.

“We had to give him grass time because it’s not easy when you go from under-21s football to a first-team environment,” said the manager.

“You have to get used to the culture and it’s the same with Calum Kavanagh, even though he had a spell at Harrogate last season, and Charlie McNeill.

“They need to find their feet at this level so it was really important to give them a couple of weeks to get used to our way of working, our principles and work ethic.

“We needed to bed them in and they are still learning but the experiences they are getting are brilliant for them.

“It’s a great learning curve because this is a great place to work with people that will help them along. There is a lot more to come from them.”