HAVING made his debut off the bench at Morecambe on Saturday, new loan signing Noah Mawene cannot wait to play in front of the Newport County AFC fans at Rodney Parade tonight, writes Andrew Penman.

Mawene, who arrived on a season-long loan from Preston North End on Thursday, helped his new side to a 1-0 win on the Lancashire coast – their third successive victory in League Two.

And the midfielder hopes to get another chance to impress when the Exiles host Michael Flynn’s Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy this evening (kick-off 7pm).

“It’s only been a few days, but I’m settling in well,” Mawene said. “The coaches and the rest of the squad have been fantastic, and I’ve really enjoyed my time here so far.

“It was amazing to make my debut. I’ve never experienced anything like it before, battling so hard for the win.

“The physical aspect of the game was intense, but I loved every moment of it,” he added. “When the final whistle blew, I felt a great sense of pride because everyone gave their all, and we secured the win.

“The team was in excellent form before I joined, so it was brilliant to be part of the victory and chieving our first clean sheet of the season is huge.

“We played well, especially in the first 20 minutes, but there’s always room for improvement. Now, it’s about building on this momentum.”

Mawene hopes to feature tonight, while fellow loanees Jamie Miley and Kyle Hudlin could make their first appearances since joining on loan from Newcastle United and Huddersfield Town respectively.

“I can’t wait to meet the fans at Rodney Parade,” said Mawene.

“I hope they liked what I brought to the team [on Saturday]. I had to put in a lot of effort, making tackles and blocks, but that’s exactly what I’m here for.

“When I first saw Rodney Parade, I could tell it’s a special place.”

Mawene admits that he is his own worst critic and he’s determined to help Nelson Jardim’s side achieve their goals between now and May.

“I don’t really give myself a lot of praise, to be fair,” said the 19-year-old.

“I will always focus on the other side, of how I can be better – because I know, in the end, that will make me a better player and person. I am good at putting my hand on my heart and saying something is my fault, but maybe I do it a bit too often!

“My goal is to help us win as many games as possible and make a real impact this season.”