NEWPORT County AFC will hope that history repeats after striker Luke Jephcott declared next season is when he will be at his best.

The Exiles made a permanent signing in January 2021 to boost their League Two promotion push but he turned out to be a flop... initially.

Dom Telford, who had moved from Plymouth where Jephcott was a teammate, featured 15 times in the run-in (five starts) and scored just one goal – a header to rescue a point against nine-man Exeter.

The diminutive striker was not even on the bench for the play-off semi-final against Forest Green Rovers or controversial Wembley loss to Morecambe, then looked on his way out when he continued to be a fringe figure at the start of the next season.

It was clear that Telford was staying when he lined up against Plymouth in a midweek EFL Trophy fixture on deadline day and he scored a cracker.

South Wales Argus: DELIGHT: Dom Telford had a golden season with CountyDELIGHT: Dom Telford had a golden season with County

The left-footer would force his way in and go on to finish the 2021/22 campaign with 26 goals in 40 games, make the three-man shortlist for player of the season and feature in the League Two team of the season.

Telford moved to Crawley that summer and scored 15 times while he is currently hunting promotion with Barrow, although it has not been as fruitful a campaign on the personal front with four goals and three assists.

Jephcott was also brought in at the halfway stage of the season after being frozen out at Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone.

The former Wales Under-21s international was signed by boss Graham Coughlan to be a fox in the box but is yet to get up and running.

Jephcott has made 14 appearances, three of them starts, and played 357 minutes so far without hitting the back of the net.

He was denied by a fine save at MK Dons, thought he had scored a consolation against Accrington only for it to be chalked off because of an Offrande Zanzala offside and then fired over a golden chance on his left foot when well-placed against Tranmere last Saturday.

The 24-year-old’s track record, especially at Plymouth, suggests that he will be a potent player for County and he doesn’t want to wait until next season to break his duck.

South Wales Argus: CLOSE: Luke Jephcott was denied his first County goal by a fine save at MK DonsCLOSE: Luke Jephcott was denied his first County goal by a fine save at MK Dons (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“I’ve been building and getting minutes with a few starts but next season is really when people will get to see the best of me,” said Jephcott.

“It didn’t exactly go to plan in the first half of the season and it has definitely been good for me to come here, start a few and have a part to play in pretty much every game.

“I want to try and get my first goal and get off the mark. I was a bit unfortunate to not score against Accrington but it’s just a matter of time.”

Who Jephcott will be battling with for the start up front next season is yet to be seen.

Top scorer Will Evans is under contract after a superb season that attracted January interest but Seb Palmer-Houlden will return to parent club Bristol City while Omar Bogle and Offrande Zanzala are approaching the end of their deals.

An injury crisis meant that Evans had to fill in at left wing-back in the loss to Tranmere, scoring his 25th of the campaign with a fine header to open the scoring, and Omar Bogle dropped deeper for long spells.

County play their final Rodney Parade game of the season on Saturday when they host Salford and then finish against Bradford City at Valley Parade.