NEWPORT County AFC will keep tapping into the loan market to try and get more young stars that get “tongues wagging” like Seb Palmer-Houlden, manager Graham Coughlan has vowed.
The teenage striker’s exploits at Rodney Parade have earned a contract extension with Bristol City through to at least 2027.
Palmer-Houlden has been a huge hit for the Exiles and is the latest in a long line of impressive loanees.
Ben White, Antoine Semenyo, Finn Azaz, Scott Twine and Ollie Cooper have all flourished thanks to experiences in amber.
County currently have five loanees on their roster - Palmer-Houlden, Matt Baker (Stoke), Adam Lewis (Liverpool), Lewis Payne (Southampton), Matty Bondswell (Newcastle).
It is a policy that allows the Exiles to bolster their squad for minimal expenditure and that will continue under the ownership of Huw Jenkins, even if the long-term desire is to develop and sell their own talent.
“We are a club that will use the five, if not six, loans,” said Coughlan. “It’s important to get them right and for them to contribute and compete for places in the team.
“Financially we don’t have the same clout as other clubs in the division, so have to go into the loan market and it’s been part of the club’s DNA over the years.
“It’s been done well previously by Michael Flynn, Wayne Hatswell and James Rowberry, we aim to carry that on.
“The loan market is huge for this club and it’s key to build relationships with parent clubs and have trust with those higher up the pyramid so that they will allow education, game time and development with us.”
County have had plenty of loan hits but have also had their share of youngsters who haven’t been able, or ready, to make a first-team impact.
Palmer-Houlden certainly fits in the first category after impressing with his work rate and physicality in a formidable strike partnership with top scorer Will Evans.
“Seb has done brilliantly for us and he is a great lad who is still developing at the early stages of his career,” said Coughlan.
“Being exposed to first-team football and centre-halves putting him up in the air is a great education and he has got better and better.
“He has led the line really well, there is a still a lot to learn and work ahead but Bristol City have seen that [potential] in him. He is getting a great platform and education here.
“Seb is contributing and that’s all we ask of every player that you bring in on loan. Any player that goes back to their parent club, you want tongues to be wagging and people speaking in high regard of that person.
“That will happen when Seb goes back because it has been really fruitful so far with 14 games left to try and add to what he has done and to develop even further.”
Coughlan has made eight loan signings since taking the reins.
In January he brought in Manchester United prospect Charlie McNeill and Calum Kavanagh, then of Middlesbrough and now enjoying a bright start to life in Bradford after a permanent move last month.
County’s current quintet were signed last summer and then Olly Thomas was briefly with the club to cover an injury to Palmer-Houlden.
Of the loanees on the books, Bondswell (31 appearances, nine starts) and Payne (32 appearances, 19 starts) have been more on the fringes but Coughlan believes they are still learning plenty.
“The two of them have come on really well and developed, albeit both were brought in to cover Adam Lewis and Shane McLoughlin,” he said about the full-backs.
“They have had ample game time and pitch minutes, which is something tangible to build and grow from.
“I hope they reflect upon their time here really positively, and we are only in February and there is a long way to go with more game time for the young lads.”
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