NEWPORT County welcomed back a talismanic midfielder and waved goodbye to a triallist yesterday on a busy day at Rodney Parade.

Just a fortnight before the new campaign begins with the Exiles back in the Football League for the first time in a quarter of a century the Argus has learned that: Midfielder and captain last term, Max Porter, is back to full fitness and will feature tomorrow; midfielder Jamie Edge, a former six-figure signing for Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, has left the club; striker Ryan Doble is continuing on trial and is winning the battle to be offered a deal for next term; the Exiles have turned their attention towards a different central midfield target after rejecting Edge; boss Justin Edinburgh hopes to sign a midfielder and a right back before the start of the league campaign on August 3.

Edinburgh confirmed the news on Edge, but insisted it was a very tough decision.

“We told Jamie yesterday afternoon that he wasn’t going to be kept on and it was a tough call, because he’s really impressed us since he’s been here,” he said.

“He’s an impressive young player but it’s perhaps asking too much for him to have a big influence on games at this stage and that’s what we need.”

Edinburgh, however, was more hopeful on the prospects of Doble, the Wales U21 cap from Blaenavon and a graduate of the same Southampton Academy that produced Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

“Ryan stays with us and will play his part tomorrow, he’s in our thoughts for a deal for next season,” Edinburgh confirmed. “I know we already have a lot of strikers, but for me that is where you win football matches, your ability to put the ball in the net.

“And if we’re without Aaron O’Connor for the start of the season, that’s even more the case that we’ll need numbers.”

Edinburgh was delighted to confirm that Max Porter, sidelined since an away clash with Lincoln in January, is finally fit to return to action.

“Max will be involved tomorrow, he’s at full tilt in training now and it’s a huge boost to have him back,” the manager confirmed.

Edinburgh will now look to add competition for Porter, Mike Flynn, Lee Minshull and Alex Chapman in the battle for a central midfield berth.

“We need one more there, we are in talks for a player I admire hugely, but time will tell whether it’s going to be possible or if we look elsewhere.

“I’d like another midfielder and a right back to give competition to Pipey (David Pipe), and ideally, we’ll get it done next week before the season starts.”