Stoke defender Matt Baker given a Newport County reality check

The 20-year-old from Kent, whose mother Sandra is from Narberth in Pembrokeshire, signed for the Exiles on loan from Stoke City in January.

The defender was sent out by the Championship club to experience men’s football for the first time but had to bide his time.

Baker was an unused substitute in the wins against Swindon and Barrow before making his Football League debut with a brief cameo in the draw with Stevenage.

That was as a midfielder and after being brought on at half-time in Walsall, he finally started in Hartlepool.

Baker has made seven starts on the spin and shifted to his favoured position of central defender ahead of Wales’ friendly against Scotland in Spain on Sunday.

“With loans, we have some wonderful experiences,” said under-21s manager Matty Jones. “Matty Baker moves from Stoke to Newport with an expectation he is going to play.

“He is on the phone to me the first weekend saying I can’t believe I am not playing. I said I can’t believe you are saying that – don’t expect anything.

County manager Graham Coughlan with Matt Baker (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“You are going there to make a real good impact and impression. That may take weeks to convince the manager so make sure the behaviour is right and make sure the reaction to news is right. All the things we have been pretty clear with.

“It is nice to be on the phone to support these lads and they have wonderful coaches at their clubs as well to give them the same advice. It is nice every now and then to hear a different voice.”

In recent seasons County have helped in the development of Swansea duo Brandon Cooper and Ollie Cooper, with the latter’s time in Newport helping him star in the Championship and earn a first senior Wales call.

“I think that can be the making or breaking of a player in terms of how they react to certain scenarios - not just about performance but as human beings,” said former Leeds and Leicester midfielder Jones.

“We play a big part in terms of trying to support the players. They have fantastic coaches around them who I am sure are giving them the same advice.

Wales U21s boss Matt Jones (Image: PA)

“We just explain it from a different dynamic. The biggest thing about players going out on loan, a lot of them reach out to me.

“That just boosts the relationship I have with the players and that we are doing something right as an association.

“They trust they can lean on us and come for lots of different advice and guidance to support them in their loans and the successes and failures they have.”