WITH so much of the unknown about Newport County AFC – novice players, a new style, head coach TBC – it’s reassuring to know that one thing is pretty much guaranteed: Courtney Baker-Richardson will do the hard yards.
The striker has returned to Rodney Parade on a two-year contract with the aim of being just as influential as he was in the 2021/22 season.
Dom Telford and Finn Azaz got the individual plaudits for a campaign that saw the Exiles in contention for automatic promotion in mid-March only to dramatically fall out of the play-off picture with three rounds to go.
County’s success under James Rowberry was built on the goals of Telford (26 in all competitions) and spark of Azaz.
The striker won the League Two golden boot, the attacking midfielder was young player of the season and both were named in the team of the year.
However, the duo thrived when Baker-Richardson was putting in the hard yards up top.
County’s season was hit when he was injured in February, with Crystal Palace loanee Rob Street struggling to be as effective.
RETURN: Courtney Baker-Richardson will add energy up front for County (Image: Huw Evans Agency)
Baker-Richardson is back in Newport after two campaigns at Crewe and will aim to be just as influential second time round.
At 28 he has plenty of EFL years ahead of him but he is one of the few in a youthful squad that will have had a CD collection.
Baker-Richardson, Nick Townsend, James Clarke, Aaron Wildig, Shane McLoughlin, Will Evans and Luke Jephcott will all have to provide some guidance while also producing the goods on the pitch.
County have effectively swapped their ‘new’ forward for Omar Bogle, who has signed a two-year deal with the Railwaymen.
They are two men who can be a real handful at League Two level.
Baker-Richardson, who loves to battle in the air, flick the ball on and lay it off, will be charged with getting County’s other forwards involved in the game.
He did that successfully first time around when the Exiles had a possession-based game and Telford, Azaz, Ollie Cooper, Jake Cain.
Ignore his assists tally – one in each of the last three campaigns – Baker-Richardson is important if County are to create.
His dirty work and running in the channels could well lead to plenty of celebrating for last season’s top scorer Evans and Jephcott, who should profit from a pre-season after being rusty after his January arrival.
JOY: Courtney Baker-Richardson sparked wild scenes in the County away end at Scunthorpe (Image: Huw Evans Agency)
Not that Baker-Richardson is just a grafter or a nuisance – his strike rate of 19 goals in 76 games for Crewe is healthy.
In his season at County he scored eight times, smashed in absolute crackers against Scunthorpe and Stevenage plus scored a memorable winner in Scunthorpe.
Were it not for injury then Baker-Richardson probably would have hit double figures to go along with Telford’s exploits.
It wasn’t just in the opposition box that the striker was important in 2021/22, he was given a simple but important task when set pieces were launched into the Exiles boss.
Baker-Richardson would attack the ball and that is reflected in his tally of 2.6 clearances per 90 minutes.
For comparison, last season Evans (who, let's remember, had time filling in at left-back) made 1.4 and Bogle 0.7.
A forward’s defensive work is more than a welcome bonus, it’s pivotal to the team functioning and Baker-Richardson was influential in the aggressive press that was a feature of the successful times under Rowberry.
His defensive prowess is a real bonus but a striker wants to be known for their attacking exploits and ultimately that’s what Baker-Richardson will be judged on.
After being Sutton to Telford’s Shearer, he will no doubt want to be the main man second time around.
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