STRIKER Jamie Moralee (pictured) has pledged to put his difficult first season at Spytty Park behind him and help put Newport County back on the football map.
The 33-year-old is the first to admit that he was not firing on all cylinders last season but after a productive pre-season, he is raring to show County fans the form that took him to clubs such as Crystal Palace, Millwall and Watford, clocking up transfer fees of more than £750,000.
Moralee said: "It was a difficult season because Barry folded and then I had to wait three months for my clearance to get back into the English leagues.
"Also the adjustment from full-time football to part-time for the first time in 17 seasons caused problems and I picked up lots of niggling injuries, missing the final two months of the campaign.
"But I have worked really hard in pre-season with the staff at Newport to get myself back into shape and I am now feeling back to my old self. "
He added: "Being a striker is all about goals and after last year, my touch wasn't sharp and the confidence took a bit of a battering.
"But I have no doubt that things are going to click and the goals will come. I know if I keep getting into positions, the goals will start to flow and the confidence will come back. That's when you start banging them in."
Moralee believes there is a real feeling of optimism in the dressing room and the players are determined to make this campaign one to remember, as they prepare for the big kick-off at Havant on Saturday.
He said: "Without wanting to be too confident, there is a feeling among the players that this could be a cracking season. The boys have worked really hard in pre-season and the team spirit is great.
"The club have signed some quality players and with the young players coming through, it could be a match made in heaven.
"If I can weigh in with a quota of goals along with Carl (Wilson-Denis) as well as some from midfield, we will be right in it.
"I know I speak on behalf of the players when I say that if things don't go our way, it won't be for the want of trying. Everyone is out there to give 100 per cent."
And Moralee insists there will be no repeat of last year when County failed to win any of their first ten matches.
He said: "We want to be around the top six by Christmas and if we can do that, we will be in the big shake up at the end of the season.
"It is a tough start on paper, but if we can come through it with some points in the bag, it will kick-start the season and gives us a right good chance.
"The responsibility lies with the players and we want to go out there and do a job for the fans and the management staff at Newport and to go out and show people that there is a resurgence at Newport County."
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