ALMOST two years ago Luke Jephcott scored the only goal of the game when Newport County AFC went down to defeat at Swindon.

The former Wales Under-21s striker was on the spot to score early in the second half after Ronan Darcy’s long-range shot had been palmed away by Nick Townsend.

It was a poacher’s finish by a man who had caught the eye when with Plymouth, with reports of a £5million price tag after his exploits in League One.

However, Jephcott appears to be at a key moment in his career after a tough couple of seasons.

The 24-year-old is still yet to get off the mark for County after signing in January and he has scored just five goals, all of them for Swindon, since that winner in Wiltshire at the start of October, 2022.

DENIED: Luke Jephcott is tackled by Lewis Payne in Newport County's loss at CheltenhamDENIED: Luke Jephcott is tackled by Lewis Payne in Newport County's loss at Cheltenham (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)

He made an ill-fated move to the Scottish Premiership with St Johnstone before heading to Rodney Parade and he has been down the pecking order so far this season.

Courtney Baker-Richardson is the main man leading the line for the Exiles with Jephcott and towering deadline day arrival Kyle Hudlin his back-up after the loss of promising forward Hamzad Kargbo to a dislocated shoulder.

There is the hope that getting off the mark could be the spark that a clearly talented player needs to kick on, but he is also being told that there must be more to his game than goals in new roles.

“Luke has been great in the squad,” said head coach Nelson Jardim about Jephcott, who has made three league appearances off the bench and started two cup games this season.

“He is always ready for whatever the team needs and in the last couple of weeks we have seen a little bit more of him on the training ground and in games, like against Cheltenham [in the EFL Trophy].

“We are just trying to find the best way of him helping the team; I have been asking him to do other things and I am sure that will bring a little bit more out of him.

“He will be versatile because the number 10 role is somewhere that he can help the team, also the false nine probably. Luke has shown he can do that and he is an important player for us.”

County have played winger Bobby Kamwa off Baker-Richardson in recent weeks after starting the season in a version of 4-3-3.

Jephcott, who has made 21 appearances and seven starts for the club, led the line against Cheltenham when Oliver Greaves, Kieron Evans and Noah Mawene were in support.

The striker set up Evans’ goal with a clever dummy and did well with his hold-up play before Hudlin came on for his debut.