NEWPORT County AFC’s win against Wrexham and giving Manchester United a scare on their way to lifting the FA Cup means that a magic moment from last season has almost been forgotten.
The Red Devils weren’t the only Premier League side to leave Rodney Parade relieved that they hadn’t been added to the list of the Exiles’ scalps.
In late August, Brentford were frustrated by Graham Coughlan’s side and were grateful when Mathias Jensen struck late in the Carabao Cup tie in Newport.
But County responded impressively with Adam Lewis crossing and Kiban Rai sparking bedlam with a superb header in the 96th minute.
The less said about the Exiles’ penalties in the following shoot-out the better.
DELIGHT: Kiban Rai celebrates scoring for County against Brentford in the Carabao Cup (Image: Huw Evans Agency)
The hope was that the teenager from Brecon would use that goal against the Bees – his first in professional football – as a launchpad.
Sadly, Rai was a fringe figure for the rest of 2023/24.
In League Two he made just one start, at Doncaster in January, came off the bench 12 times and was an unused substitute on 20 occasions.
There were three brief cameos in the FA Cup to go with a pair of starts in the EFL Trophy.
Even when County’s season was going to the dogs, Rai wasn’t given an opportunity.
Impressive loanee Seb Palmer-Houlden continued despite his imminent return to Bristol City and exit-bound Offrande Zanzala was preferred.
Rai no doubt developed from another season of hard training as a professional but the teenager didn’t get the minutes that he needed on the pitch.
He has the opportunity to change that.
Much of the summer County chat has been about new signings getting a crack at establishing themselves in the Football League but the same applies for some who found themselves on the fringes.
Rai didn’t really fit into Coughlan’s 3-5-2 but his pace gives him a real shot at being a weapon in Nelson Jardim’s 4-3-3.
THREAT: Kiban Rai in action for County at Undy in pre-season (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)
The teenager has shown flashes of promise in pre-season with a goal at Undy (remember, he scored two at the Causeway in 2023) and dangerous moments against Pontypridd, Barry and Bristol City.
If Rai can improve his decision-making and quality in the final third then he can be a big hit in this new style and shape.
The winger slots are up for grabs with forward Will Evans the only nailed-on starter when fit.
Nathan Wood, fresh from a loan spell in Ireland with Cork, is in the same boat as Rai while Michael Spellman and Oliver Greaves are EFL novices.
Luke Jephcott has floated around in pre-season but the striker would no doubt like to be in a more central role.
Rai is still young and developing but this is a big chance that he can’t let slip away.
County had a homegrown, promising, rapid forward in Lewis Collins who sadly never quite kicked on from his fine end to the 2020/21 season that ended in Wembley woe.
Rai shares many of his attributes and needs to make the most of this route to the XI.
It's in his hands.
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