NEWPORT County have completed the signing of former Arsenal and Northampton right-back Paul Rodgers.

The 21-year-old had been on trial with the Exiles and started in Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Premier League outfit Bolton Wanderers.

County boss Anthony Hudson, who is close to capturing Frenchman Guillame Velez on a permanent deal and Dagenham & Redbridge midfielder Ben Johnson on loan, is delighted to have the athletic defender on board.

“Paul is a player with lots of potential having come through the ranks at Arsenal and played in the Football League,” he said.

“He’s very athletic and fits in with the way we play with our full-backs getting up and down the pitch and he’s got a great attitude and a fantastic work ethic.”

Meanwhile, Bolton manager Owen Coyle is predicting big things for Hudson and believes the Exiles are in for a successful season.

Coyle’s Premier League stars eased to a 3-1 win over County at Spytty Park on Saturday.

The pre-season friendly was overshadowed by a badly broken leg suffered by Bolton’s South Korean international Chung-Yong Lee but Coyle was impressed by what he saw.

“It was two very good teams. Anthony is a pal of mine and I think he’s got Newport going in the right direction, he showed that at the tail end of last season,” said the Trotters boss.

“I think they’ve got an awful lot to look forward to this season.”

Coyle first got to know Hudson four years ago during the County manager’s spell in charge of American side Real Maryland.

He believes that the Exiles have got themselves a top coach who has the potential to manage at the highest level.

“I took my Burnley side to America and he did very well out there,” he explained.

“He’s making his way in the game and we’ve always kept in touch. I saw him out there again last year and again when he was helping out at Tottenham as well.

“He’s got a good head on his shoulders and he wants to do well. He wants to get Newport back to where we all think they should be – in the League.

“We all know there’s snobbery in football. If you’ve been a top class player you’ll get a top job straight away,” he added.

“But he’s working at the coalface and I can identify with that because I started in the Scottish first division.

“It’s a tremendous apprenticeship because he’s acquiring all the tools you need to succeed in the Premier League.

“I think it’s a very good match at the moment for Anthony and Newport and I’ve got no doubt he’ll take the club from strength to strength.”

- Chung-Yong Lee has left the Royal Gwent Hospital and returned to Bolton. Tom Miller, who made the challenge that broke his leg, had hoped to visit him but Hudson explained that was not possible.

“Tom wanted to see him in hospital but he was not in a fit state for visitors,” explained the Exiles boss. “The operation went well and Tom spoke to Owen Coyle, who put his mind at rest.

“Despite the rubbish some people are spouting on the internet there is no bad blood between the two teams.”