IF NEWPORT County are to realise their Nationwide Conference ambition next season they need a 25-goal-a-season striker, according to Welsh semi-pro frontman Mark Dickeson (pictured).

The big 28-year-old forward's Newport career was put on hold almost before it started after suffering cruciate right knee ligament damage just nine games into the season following a close-season move from Welsh Premier League strugglers Llanelli.

The Swansea-born hitman shot to prominence with the successful Welsh non-League side who won the inaugural Home Nations Championship last summer and Dickeson scored a hat-trick in the title-clinching clash with the Republic of Ireland.

Now, though, Dickeson is back in full training and is a matter of weeks away from a first-team return. The lengthy absence of Dickeson and Neil Davis (knee ligaments) from manager Peter Nicholas' side has hindered County's assault on the Dr Martens League Premier Division title.

County's main problem this term is their failure to find the net as they've only hit 44 goals in 36 league games, a fifth of them in the opening three games.

The goal return from Newport's players is poor. Garry Shephard is their top-scorer with 15 in all competitions while Davis has 11. Scott Walker, now on-loan at Chippenham Town, has scored seven, and three players are on four goals - skipper Matt Rose, young Raith Plant, now on-loan at Ton Pentre, and defender Jeff Eckhardt.

Dickeson is now eager to make up for lost time - and hopes for a concerted challenge next season.

"All successful clubs need good strikers," said Dickeson, who scored more than 100 goals in four seasons at Llanelli.

"Teams need someone to score between 20 and 30 goals-a-season if they are hoping to push for a title."

But Dickeson pointed out: "It's not just up to the strikers. We can only score from the chances that our midfielders or defenders create.

"No striker scores 25 goals a-season on his own without any help. It is up to strikers to react and get into the right positions but they need the midfield to create those openings for them."

Dickeson admitted it's a case of mind over matter before he makes his return from a serious injury that has sidelined him for seven months.

"I think I'm about a week or two away," he said. "My consultant is very happy and he says I'm ahead of schedule.

"But there is a big difference in fitness for training and match fitness. I just want to come off the bench and get 20 minutes or so

"I've got to get things right in my head. I need to get that first kick or first bad tackle, then mentally I can start thinking positively.

"It's all psychological. Having been out for so long, you don't want to come back too soon and make the injury worse."

Dickeson, however, will not be in County's squad for Saturday's Newport Stadium league clash with third-placed Stafford Rangers but fellow striker Shephard is likely to return.