KAI Whitmore hopes to keep his Newport County AFC starting spot in midfield despite the potential return of two role models.

The Exiles travel to Tranmere in League Two on Saturday aiming to bounce back after being knockout of the FA Cup 4-2 by Peterborough.

Head coach Nelson Jardim played it safe with the fitness of influential midfielders Aaron Wildig and Bryn Morris against the Posh but the duo could return at Prenton Park.

The boss has a welcome selection headache in the middle of the park given that Whitmore and Newcastle loanee Jamie Miley have enjoyed successful comebacks from calf and hernia injuries respectively.

If energetic Whitmore, a summer signing from Cymry Premier Haverfordwest, gets the not in Birkenhead then he’ll hope to reap the rewards of learning from Wildig and Morris on and off the pitch.

LIVELY: Kai Whitmore has caught the eye since joining County from HaverfordwestLIVELY: Kai Whitmore has caught the eye since joining County from Haverfordwest (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

“They are both really good role models and proper pros, they have been good players for me to look up to,” he said.

“I am picking things up and it’s been good to learn off both of them in my first season after coming in determined to do my best and see where that goes.

“County have had successes in the Cymru Premier and you only have to look at Will Evans, who has moved on [to Mansfield in League One]. I will try my best to follow what he has done.”

Whitmore was man of the match in the August win against promotion candidates Doncaster when he fired in a superb goal from distance.

However, he then suffered a calf injury and was out of action until returning in mid-October with three appearances off the bench.

“It was frustrating being out injured, it was eight weeks in the end, but it was good to get a first start against Peterborough, and get a goal,” said Whitmore.

“There is good competition in midfield and I couldn’t just come straight back in, you’ve got to build up the minutes. I was tired against Peterborough, but I am ready to push on now.”

FINISH: Kai Whitmore curled in County's second goal in their FA Cup loss to PeterboroughFINISH: Kai Whitmore curled in County's second goal in their FA Cup loss to Peterborough (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency) Whitmore scored the second goal to give County a dream start before they were hit by a comeback by League One Posh.

With extra time looming, the visitors scored two very late goals to progress but County’s performance gives the midfielder encouragement.

“They were a really good team and were dangerous but I felt that we held our own and that we should have really held onto our lead,” said Whitmore, who was replaced for the closing stages.

“That performance against a team in the division above should give us confidence for playing back in League Two.

“We said in the dressing room straight after the FA Cup game that there is a big block of league fixtures up to January now and we want to win as many as we can.”