Newport County's Aaron Wildig playing for new contract

The 31-year-old midfielder will face his former club at Rodney Parade on Tuesday night when they host Morecambe (kick-off 7.45pm).

Wildig spent seven years with the Shrimps and made 248 appearances for the club, including one at Wembley when they controversially pipped the Exiles to promotion three years ago.

He turned down a contract extension in the summer of 2022 to return to his native Hereford with his partner and young son.

Signed by James Rowberry on a two-year deal, Wildig is yet to talk terms with current boss Graham Coughlan and knows that he faces an important League Two run-in.

“I’ve not spoken to the manager at all,” he said about a potential new contract. “I know that I am at a stage of my career where I only have three or four years left.

“I have got a young family so it’s important that I play as much as I can until the end of the season.

“I’ve got to finish the season strongly and put myself in a position to hopefully earn a contract here, or if that’s not the case and the club want to go in a different direction then earn one somewhere else.”

County midfielder Aaron Wildig in action at Stockport (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

Wildig endured a frustrating first campaign in Newport with injuries limiting him to 32 appearances out of a possible 55 in all competitions, 18 of them starts.

He has featured more prominently in 2023/24 and tomorrow will be his 36th outing from a possible 47, 31 of them in the XI.

“I’ve played a lot more and, when available, most of my games have been starts,” said Wildig, who has scored two goals and provided five assists.

“I was unfortunate with a concussion [after an aerial challenge in the EFL Trophy win at Cheltenham] and then I was ill at Christmas when I was in bed for a week.

“I had one injury with a back problem that kept me out for a few weeks [in November], but I’ve played a lot.

“I’ve probably had spells when I’ve not quite been at it and some good spells; I’d like to have scored a few more goals but I’ve contributed by chipping in here and there.

“I've been a bit more consistent with the games that I've played so hopefully I can finish strongly, like last year.”

Manager Graham Coughlan’s post-match comments at Wrexham on December 23 led to speculation that Wildig was on his way out.

"If they're not contributing, they're going to have to step aside I'm afraid,” said the boss, which was followed by the experienced midfielder missing out against Forest Green, Crewe and Sutton Yet it was sickness rather than a spat that led to Wildig’s absence.

Newport County midfielder Aaron Wildig (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“I woke up on Christmas Day and felt horrendous,” he said. “I don’t think it went down too well with the manager but I did speak to the physio and came in on Boxing Day but got sent home.

“It wiped me out and I lost a bit of weight, so it took a bit of time to get back in, but since then I've managed to put some games together.”

Wildig will look to continue that run against Morecambe with County looking to hit Coughlan’s first target for the season of 50 points.

The Exiles were agonisingly close to bringing up their half century last weekend only for Stockport to strike in added time for a 1-0 win.