Dom Telford thriving after fighting for Newport County spot

The striker swapped Plymouth Argyle for the Exiles last January but failed to make his mark after dropping down to League Two in search of regular football.

The 24-year-old was a fringe figure in the push for promotion and made just 15 appearances, five of them starts, and scoring just one goal.

Michael Flynn refreshed his forward line over the summer and it looked like Telford, who arrived on a one-and-a-half year contract, would follow Padraig Amond out the door.

Yet as the clock ticked towards 11pm on deadline day the striker was instead named in the starting line-up to face his old Plymouth side in the EFL Trophy.

Telford put in a lively performance and capped it with a wonderful curling left-footed effort from outside the box, a mirror image of Courtney Baker-Richardson’s cracker against Scunthorpe last weekend.

RETURN: Dom Telford scored a stunner against Plymouth

“Leading into that game it was deadline day and I didn’t know if I was playing and I didn’t really know where my future was going to be,” he admitted.

“I kind of stripped it back to basics for that night, just enjoying it with nothing to lose and scored probably the best goal I’ve scored in my career.”

Telford got another helping hand courtesy of a coronavirus outbreak that led to featuring on the bench against Leyton Orient in League Two.

He came on to score the equaliser with a deft flick, then repeated the trick against the Iron last week.

“I am hoping it can been the start of a decent run through to Christmas. I am not bothered how they come and the little fox in the box ones are more my type of goals,” he said.

“In the box I just want half a yard or if someone switches off I am looking for where the ball could drop. The lads call them tap-ins but I think there is more to them!”

It should be noted that Telford was brought in from the cold by Flynn; his return has not been down to Wayne Hatswell taking over as caretaker boss.

CAMEO: Dom Telford thought he was heading for the exit in August

“It has turned around quite quickly from coming in pre-season when everyone was quite aware I was out of favour,” said the forward, who missed Flynn’s last game at Barrow because of a hamstring niggle.

“I’ve just got my head down, worked harder and reaped the rewards. I am hoping it’s the start of a decent run for the team and me personally, because I know I am capable of it.

“That was one of the main reasons I am still here, I back myself at this level and know I can do it.”

“Me and the gaffer got on really well, from the outside it may not look like that but I am quite a straightforward guy,” he continued.

“He never hid anything from me and I always respected him for that, it’s the same with Hats so the change hasn’t made a difference. I feel I’ve worked hard and proved myself over the last few weeks to earn my start.

“It was a tough couple of months but I got myself together over the summer and it was sink or swim.

“I do almost feel like I’m a new signing and I get a bit of stick off the lads, saying ‘who’s this bloke, he’s not been here for six months!’ but it’s hopefully the start of something.”

FLICK: Dom Telford scored County's third against Scunthorpe

Telford got the reward his graft deserved with a goal against Scunthorpe last weekend.

He missed out in the run-in last season while Padraig Amond and Lewis Collins set the tone from the front and he is ready to run himself into the ground against Bradford City this afternoon.

“In the Football League you can’t get away with not grafting. It’s a non-negotiable to work as hard as you can for as long as you can, then if you blow up there is someone else to come on and replace you,” he said.

“Podge and Lewis set a great example at the back end of last season, you can’t just turn up on a Saturday and start walking about. I don’t think the fans would appreciate that.”

Telford will hope his efforts earn a second successive standing ovation this afternoon.