Newport County's profile will rocket thanks to their nursery link with Premiership champions Manchester United, insists ex-Welsh international Clayton Blackmore (pictured).

The Exiles now stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of world's most famous football clubs who also have links with Sir Alex Ferguson's European giants.

County join Portuguese legends Sporting Lisbon, French Champions League outfit Nantes, glitzy Brazilians Sao Paulo, Belgium's Royal Antwerp plus other high-profile clubs in Australia and South Africa in United's foreign legion of youth academies.

County boss Peter Nicholas and assistant Glyn Jones, also head of youth development at County's Hartridge School-based academy, will help groom United's budding Welsh stars.

County will be financially reward for each player they develop - and 39-times capped Welshman and Manchester United defender Blackmore believes the deal is a great pat-on-the-back for County's youth development team.

And the 38-year-old says Welsh football will improve due to the tie-up.

Blackmore, now at Welsh Premier League side Bangor City, said: "If the kids of South Wales know there's a chance Manchester United scouts will be watching them play local football then hopefully more will turn out.

"That can only improve football in Wales and it's a major coup for Newport County." Blackmore can remember enduring a five-hour train trek from his Neath home to Manchester on Friday nights after school to turn out for United's youth the next day.

"I'll always remember that nightmare journey," he said. "Journeys like that can put youngsters off playing football for professional clubs, that's possibly why there aren't a huge number of top-quality Welsh internationals.

"But if the coaching schools are local then it would encourage more youngsters to take the game more seriously.

"It's a great boost for Newport County and because Manchester United are involved you can be assured that County's academy is top quality. Newport County's profile will go through the roof."

And ex-Newport County midfielder Neil Bailey, formerly Under-17 coach at Manchester United for seven years, hailed the tie-up as an "honour"for the Dr Martens League club. "It is a fantastic deal for both parties," said Bailey, who now works for the Professional Footballers' Association.

"It's a terrific honour for Newport County to be involved with Manchester United, one of the world's elite clubs."

* Newport County travel to Welsh League Division Three Chepstow Town on Saturday (2.30pm) instead of Maesteg Park, who are suffering with player unavailability.