NEWPORT County AFC boss Nelson Jardim was prepared for the summer exit of Will Evans and is confident they will ‘find a way’ to replace the top scorer’s goals.

The hard-working forward caught the eye last season by netting 25 times and that ultimately led to a move to League One Mansfield for a fee that could hit £200,000.

Evans scored 21 times in League Two last season and the drop off to second in the Exiles’ goal chart was considerable with Bryn Morris, Omar Bogle and Seb Palmer-Houlden all on seven.

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County have brought back popular striker Courtney Baker-Richardson after two seasons at Crewe while they will hope that Luke Jephcott can get on a roll after arriving in January and settling in.

Lively winger Bobby Kamwa, formerly of Leeds academy and Burton, should add to the firepower with Nathan Wood, Kiban Rai and novice summer arrivals Oliver Greaves, Michael Spellman and Hamzad Kargbo the other attacking options.

HIT: Will Evans was County's main goal threat last seasonHIT: Will Evans was County's main goal threat last season (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

The loss of Evans, who had a year left on his contract, was a blow that Jardim expected and he believes County are well covered.

“As a football coach you have to be prepared for anything, that is part of the business,” said Jardim.

“We definitely had that in our minds and with the new signings we have covered the situation that happened.

“Will was definitely a good asset and player for us - we have lost a lot of goals, and maybe some points, but we have also lost a good character and person. We will find a way and have to move on.

“You can put a name on the goal but there is teamwork behind every goal. We will have a team that can produce goal-scoring chances for the forwards to score. I am confident that we will find a way.”

County have signed 13 players so far this season and Jardim says that owner Huw Jenkins, who has led the recruitment drive along with head of football operations Chris Finn, will be alive to any more deals.

“We are happy with everything but if a good opportunity comes then we are not going to turn it down,” said the head coach.

RAW: Hamzad Kargbo has earned a deal with CountyRAW: Hamzad Kargbo has earned a deal with County (Image: Gareth Everett)

The 13th signing was confirmed this week with Kargbo earning a chance after playing for the club in pre-season while on trial.

The 6ft 4ins striker is raw but provides County, who intend to play possession-based, passing football, with physicality in both boxes.

“Hamzad will give us something different that we needed,” said Jardim.

“I wouldn't say that it's a Plan B. Every squad needs balance in different areas and he is a player that will provide that for us.

“He is a different type of striker, a taller one, and you can only control what we can do, not what the opposition will do. Sometimes we will need that type of striker in the box.

“Any player can fit in possession-based football. They all have different tasks but we just have to find a way that he can fit.”