NEWPORT County AFC star Aaron O’Connor is relishing the prospect of taking on his former club Luton Town in League Two.
County now know that they travel to face the Hatters at Kenilworth Road on Saturday, December 20, after the League Two fixtures were released yesterday.
And the Exiles welcome John Still’s side, promoted from the Conference as champions in 2013/14, to Rodney Parade on March 17 next year.
The pre-Christmas away trip is likely to be a feisty affair with O’Connor and fellow ex-Luton players Danny Crow and Robbie Willmott likely to face the wrath of the vociferous home fans.
County’s Christian Jolley, who scored four goals against the Hatters in the 2012/13 season and rejected a move to Kenilworth Road, could also be a target for abuse from the stands.
O’Connor, Willmott and Crow have all clashed with Luton fans on Twitter and O’Connor is relishing the chance to renew the rivalry on the pitch.
“I thought I’d got rid of them, to be honest,” joked the Exiles striker, who also scored against his old club in a 5-2 win at Rodney Parade in the Conference in December 2012.
“I’ve had a bit of banter with people on Twitter and a few of my mates who are still there,” he added.
“It is a good place to go because they have a lot of fans and I hear they’re getting the pitch re-laid.
“That’s what we want – to play on good pitches in front of big crowds.”
Justin Edinburgh’s men start their second campaign in League Two with a home match against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday, August 9.
The Exiles are also at home on Boxing Day, when they face Plymouth Argyle, on January 3, when they host Carlisle United, and on the final day against Oxford United.
The eye-catching trip to Portsmouth’s Fratton Park, where County won 2-0 last season, is on Saturday, August 30.
They go to Tranmere Rovers, relegated from League One last season, on Tuesday, September 16, and old rivals Shrewsbury, also relegated last season, on Saturday, September 20.
The long trip to the third relegated side Carlisle United is on Saturday, November 1, while newly promoted Cambridge United host County on Saturday, January 17.
And Stevenage, the fourth team relegated from League One in 2013/14, welcome the Exiles on Saturday, March 7.
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