Michal Flynn urges Aaron Lewis to hit the heights at Newport

The 23-year-old was man of the match in last weekend's 2-1 win against Walsall on his first League Two start of the campaign.

Lewis finished last season superbly down the right flank to prompt County to play Liam Shephard as a right-sided central defender.

The Swansea academy graduate signed a new deal in the summer but found himself on the bench while new signing Cameron Norman and Ryan Haynes were given the starts as wing-backs.

Versatile Lewis got his chance at the expense of Haynes down the left against the Saddlers and grasped it with an energetic and classy display.

"He's got to keep his standards up because he was outstanding on Saturday," said Flynn. "That was one of the best games that I have seen him play and in the first half he was a big link to everything that we did.

"Aaron knows what I think of him, I wouldn't have given him a new contract otherwise, and I just know there is that little bit more to come from him every time.

"I will be on his back to make sure I get that out of him because when he plays like that he is a very, very important player for us."

Another key figure is central defender Matty Dolan, who has endured a stop-start season after suffering a calf injury at Oldham on opening weekend.

Against Walsall the called the shots from the back, bringing composure that was sorely missing in the 1-0 loss to Northampton.

Dolan did have a penalty saved on the stroke of half-time but Flynn believes a run of games will help his captain hit the levels that saw him named player of the season in 2020/21.

"That was Matty's first 90 minutes since the end of last season so there is more to come from him," said Flynn.

"He did show, especially in the first 60 minutes, how important he is to how we want to play. He will only get better through being sharper and fitter over the next few weeks."