KYLE Hudlin intends to use his ‘super-strength’ to help Newport County AFC kick on from a promising start to League Two, although the giant striker doesn’t want to be pigeon-holed.

The towering forward, who signed on loan from Huddersfield on deadline day because of an injury to Hamzad Kargbo, scored his first EFL goal when heading the Exiles into the lead in Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Salford at Rodney Parade.

Hudlin is keen to show that there is more to his game, but at 6ft 9ins there is no getting away from his main strength.

The forward intends to use his head and long limbs to become a focal point for County’s attack after also setting up Aaron Wildig for the second and then nodding on for Kieron Evans to provide the assist for Michael Spellman’s clincher.

THREAT: Giant striker Kyle Hudlin leading the line for CountyTHREAT: Giant striker Kyle Hudlin leading the line for County (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

“My size is a super-strength and it’s about utilising that to the best of my ability and really eliminating the defenders at source,” said the 24-year-old.

“From there I can use my technical ability and bring people into play, then hopefully get on the end of the crosses.

“No footballer wants to be known for one strength, because you become predictable, so it’s about working on every part of your craft and perfecting it.

“My size is such an advantage to me but I am still learning on the job and I am speaking to the other boys in the squad, experienced and young.

“We’ve all had different pathways and everyone has something you can learn from while I’m also sitting down with the staff to get their intel about where I can improve.”

And Hudlin got the inside track from a former teammate when making sure he wouldn’t just be used as a Plan B by Nelson Jardim at County.

LITTLE AND LARGE: Bobby Kamwa with Kyle HudlinLITTLE AND LARGE: Bobby Kamwa with Kyle Hudlin (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

“I spoke to Bobby Kamwa, who I know from Burton last season, and I was really sold on it because I like the way that the gaffer wants to play,” he said.

“He wants to utilise me as a striker not just with my size but my feet. Bobby spoke highly of the club and that really sold it to me.”

Hudlin hasn’t had a conventional route to the Football League, first catching the eye of National League Solihull Moors by banging in the goals at amateur level in the West Midlands.

He was signed by Huddersfield in 2022 and had spells at AFC Wimbledon and Burton before heading for another loan in Newport.

His header on Tuesday was his first in the EFL and first competitive goal since scoring for Huddersfield in the League Cup in August, 2023.

Hudlin has got off the mark in amber and took his chance in the scrap with Courtney Baker-Richardson and Luke Jephcott to lead the line.

“Football is all about competition and having somebody there to compete with stops complacency,” said Hudlin, with the striker group to be joined with Kargbo when he returns from a dislocated shoulder before winter.

“As soon as I accepted the loan I knew I was coming here to fight for my position because I knew the quality that the team has got, and we all offer different things.

“It’s about what suits the gaffer on the day and then really cementing your spot, taking the opportunities when they come.”

He did that against Salford but the Huddersfield striker isn’t getting carried away ahead of a return to Yorkshire to face Bradford on Monday and then Harrogate.

“The changing room is bouncing [after wins against Crewe and Salford] but we know that we have to take it game by game and can’t get ahead of ourselves,” he said. “We need to make sure we keep preparing right.”