NEWPORT County AFC are hoping they’ve found the next Conor Washington in the shape of new signing Joe Parker.

Washington joined the Exiles from non-league minnows St Ives Town a little over a year ago and has been a revelation in League Two this season, scoring seven goals so far and catching the eye of clubs around the country.

And the club believe history could repeat itself with the capture of Parker, an 18-year-old striker signed from Conference North side Gloucester City.

The youngster will officially become a County player in January and is expected to remain at Gloucester for the remainder of the season, although that has yet to be confirmed.

What is certain is that he is an exciting prospect with four goals in nine starts for the Tigers, including a 20-minute hat-trick against Yate Town in this season’s FA Cup.

Gloucester-boy Parker, a product of the club's successful youth system, was named the player of the round for that hat-trick in October and won a VIP trip to the FA Cup final for his efforts.

He made his Gloucester debut at Guiseley in September 2012 and has previously had loan spells at Southern League sides Cirencester and Shortwood.

“He’s come in and trained a few times and he’s got real potential,” said Exiles assistant manager Jimmy Dack.

“But that’s all it is – potential. We’ve got to nurture him along and see how he goes.

“Sometimes you have to take little gambles. We did it with Conor and look at what we’re getting now.

“Hopefully it’ll pay off. He’ll probably go back out on loan and we’ll see how we go from there.”

The club initially indicated that Parker would go back to Gloucester on loan until next summer but Dack denied that was set in stone.

“We don’t want to commit to that but it is all about development,” he said. “There’s no point in him just sitting on the bench. He’ll learn nothing from that.

“It will probably be better for him to go out on loan if he’s not in and around the squad because we always say nothing beats playing.”