MIDFIELDER Max Porter says every player will have to work harder than ever to claim a starting place for Newport County AFC this season.

Porter, who has not played a competitive match since January, is desperate to feature in Saturday’s League Two curtain-raiser against Accrington Stanley.

But he knows that no player is guaranteed their place now that the club has stepped up a level.

Manager Justin Edinburgh must pick between Porter, Adam Chapman, Lee Minshull, Mike Flynn and Robbie Willmott for the expected three midfield berths against Accrington.

“There is a lot of competition in the middle when everyone is fit and we are looking at bringing one more in as well but that is how it’s got to be,” said Porter.

“If we are going to achieve something like we did last season then we’ve got to have good players in every position.

“No one should ever feel comfortable in their shirt. You’ve got to perform.

“Mike Flynn has great experience and Adam is a great technical player. I’ve played against him many times and he’s a difficult opponent.

“And Mins is probably playing the best football of his career. He’s scoring goals and I’m really happy for him because he worked hard when he wasn’t in the team last season and really took his chance when it came.”

The former AFC Wimbledon man is happy with his form after a prolonged groin injury saw him miss County’s whirlwind end to last season, including the play-off final victory at Wembley.

“I’m happy to be back out there,” he said after starting against an Aston Villa under-21 side on Sunday.

“I don’t feel like I’ve been out for seven months. I feel quite sharp.

“Playing the week before the season starts you know that if you play well you can keep the shirt for next week so I was putting that pressure on myself.

“But it’s a balancing act for me at the moment. If I’m in the team on Saturday I’ll be ecstatic. If I’m not I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing but hopefully I’ve given the manager something to think about because I thought I did OK.

“I played 60 minutes at Havant, 80 minutes against Villa and I’ll see how I react this week. It is day to day for me at the moment but I’m feeling good and I’d be over the moon to start against Accrington.”