NEWPORT County’s progress in the past 18 months has been nothing short of staggering but at their lowest ebb for sometime, the club is now in need of its all-important 12th man.

Following the loss of boss Dean Holdsworth to Aldershot, many are already writing the obituaries for County’s campaign, certain that the momentum gained under the man in the baseball cap has been lost, that the prospect of a League Two return is gone.

However, today marks a new chapter with Tim Harris – a man who probably bleeds black and amber – ready to re-ignite the hopes of the Exiles who are still within a whisker of the all-important Conference top five.

County are down, without a win in 2011, but certainly not out and today is the day where you can make all the difference, roaring the team on as they bid to get back on track.

Holdsworth’s departure hasn’t led to a player exodus and with new faces expected before the end of the month, there is absolutely no reason why this season can’t be revived, resuscitated and revamped with promotion still the major objective.

It’s time for you to turn Spytty Park into a fortress again.

l Extra incentive for Exiles supporters to get behind the team today is the inclusion of one of their own, the Argus understands that teen academy graduate Andrew Hughes is in line for a first senior start.

Hughes has been on the periphery this term but is likely to get the nod at left back after new signing Curtis McDonald struggled in the role at Mansfield last weekend.

One man who won’t be with the squad today is midfielder Scott Rogers who steps up his rehabilitation for a knee injury by appearing for Weymouth in the Conference South.

Rogers will return to County on Monday though, the Argus understands the Exiles have agreed to play a behind closed door friendly with Bristol Rovers.

The idea is to give players such as Rogers, Glyn Garner, Wayne Hatswell and Kerry Morgan, who are lacking match sharpness, some much needed game time.

The Exiles will also field some triallists, new signings before the January 31 deadline seemingly a certainty with Harris admitting he has “loads of irons in the fire.”