An FA Cup run, an FA Cup run, my kingdom for an FA Cup run.

It has been a quiet couple of weeks on the Newport County front with a lack of squad upheaval and positive news on the Rodney Parade pitch recovery effort leaving us with little to pontificate over.

However, excitement levels will no doubt rise this week among the Amber Army as both the League Two fixtures (tomorrow) and Capital One Cup first round draw (today) details are released.

It’s always more exciting once you can start plotting your route to glory as we consider all the possible permutations for the campaign ahead.

My current prediction for the campaign is that Newport will challenge for the play-offs, albeit with a more consistent campaign than the previous one where an horrific run from New Year’s Day to April totally decimated their chances of promotion.

However, it’s in the cups I’m most hopeful for the Exiles this term and the FA Cup in particular I’m eyeing glory in.

Due to my age and allegiance to a certain (normally trophy-less) London team, I grew up on the FA Cup and I fully appreciate it’s not held in as high esteem by many of you, but the time is right for Newport to finally become an FA Cup story.

In my tenure covering the County I’ve only seen one exciting cup run and even that was squandered and ruined as the Exiles hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons after entertaining Swansea City.

It’s time for County to make themselves a cup story for the right reasons and I have a feeling this is the season where they’ll do it.

And as it remains a potential money-spinner more rewarding even that producing a Conor Washington to sell, the Exiles could and should be dreaming of the same thing.