BRYN Morris won’t have a perfect record for Newport County AFC this season but the influential midfielder will still have a big impact now that he’s back to his sharpest.
The 28-year-old played in all 57 games for the Exiles across all competitions in 2023/24, with a half-time introduction in his solitary outing a s substitute in the EFL Trophy.
Morris was one of just seven players to make 46 starts in League Two but his chances of repeating that marathon effort were dashed on opening weekend.
The midfielder suffered from tendonitis over the summer and was unable to play a full part in pre-season because of his troublesome Achilles.
Morris sat out the first game against Cheltenham and second fixture versus Doncaster, plus the missed the Carabao Cup trip to Leyton Orient.
“It was highly unlikely that I would play every single game again so to only miss three wasn’t the worst, it’s a long season,” said the midfielder, who was also rested for the EFL Trophy encounter with Cheltenham.
“I feel that I am only really getting going – with no pre-season behind you that takes a good four to five games. On Tuesday I felt that I was back to myself.”
Morris was captain for that 1-0 win against West Ham Under-21s in the EFL Trophy and, with Aaron Wildig and James Clarke injured, is likely to have the armband again tomorrow afternoon in Barrow.
Last season the midfielder banged in eight goals but his role has changed after the exit of manager Graham Coughlan and arrival of head coach Nelson Jardim.
“I have been a bit deeper but we are still finding our feet for getting the right dynamic for the team in terms of formation,” said Morris, who was an emergency centre-back in Swindon last weekend.
“It’s still early days, it comes down to personnel and the bodies that we have around.
“Last season we had ‘Benno’ [Scot Bennett] sitting and I was in a two with him, with freedom to go forward.
“We don’t have that type of player at the moment but I played in a two with Kieron Evans on Tuesday, and he’s someone who likes to get forward.
“That does hold me back from being able to push up the pitch more but that’s not to say that will continue. We will face different formations and problems, so we will change how we set up.”
County will need to be at their best this afternoon when up against a Barrow side who have started the campaign impressively.
The Bluebirds have picked up 13 points from a possible 18 and look likely to be contenders at the top end of the table again after a late collapse lost them a play-off berth last season.
The Exiles have travelled to Cumbria on the back of two league thrashings to Port Vale 4-1 and Swindon 4-0 but did get back on the horse with the 1-0 win against the young Hammers.
“Out of possession we were really good and disciplined in terms of our shape,” said Morris. “People were in the right positions, jumping out to press at the right times with everyone else behind that.”
County are big underdogs at Holker Street but Morris hopes they can be a coupon buster.
“A good example was Doncaster the other week,” he said. “They were top and Harrogate turned them over when people didn’t expect it. Anyone can beat anyone in League Two.”
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