Mullins pleased to bring competition to Newport squad

Hayden Mullins believes Newport County have strength in depth after a frantic end to the transfer window.

Newport have added 15 players this summer, including six loanees, with Michael Adu-Poku, Kion Etete, Tanatswa Nyakuhwa and Matty Jacob all joining on deadline day.

And County boss Mullins is welcoming tough selection decisions.

"It's a good problem to have. It's better to have more bodies with a lot of quality around it than not have [those options]," he said.

"We're going to need the squad. We've got a lot of selection doubles in most positions, which is what we wanted.

"We wanted to create competition in all areas of the pitch and keep people on their toes and I feel we have done that."

Newport have started the season in encouraging goal-scoring form with only Bristol Rovers bettering their nine goals in four games in League Two.

So Mullins is not concerned by a lack of goals among his new signings given Nyakuhwa is yet to score in senior football while Adu-Poku and Etete last netted in 2024.

"Our style of play is one which is generating goals and chances," he said.

"Shaq [Gwengwe] has only been at this level for four games and scored four. Yahya [Bamba] has got a goal and Harrison Biggins, so our lads in the higher areas are generally contributing with goals.

"So hopefully the new guys come in and add to their tallies as well."

"We've identified Michael [Adu-Poku] as a powerful winger with pace, someone who we feel could really help us and fit into our style.

"We know Tan [Nyakuhwa] pretty well. He was here last season and was someone we had to be patient with."

Mullins has also secured Cardiff City forward Etete on loan and is convinced his aerial presence can help end the former Tottenham youth player's wait for a league goal, which stretches back to February 2024.

"Kion wanted to come and we had an opportunity to take a player whose level should be higher than League Two," said Mullins.

"It was a decision we had to make last minute and I'm glad we made it because it bolsters our attack really well."

Etete will not be available immediately, however, after suffering a minor hamstring issue while playing for Cardiff under-21s.

Mullins was also delighted to secure Hull City left-back Matty Jacob on a short-term loan with Tom Davies likely to be out until Christmas with an ankle injury.

While Newport have scored plenty, no other team in League Two has conceded more than the Exiles and Jacob's experience will help, having relied on 18-year-old Alfie Merritt to cover Davies.