What will Newtown’s new signings bring to Latham Park?
Since the curtailment of the 2019-2020 Cymru Premier season, one of the busiest clubs in the transfer market has been Newtown.
Chris Hughes’ side have made five new signings in preparation for next season, in addition to the contract extensions of eight first-team players.
Influential figures like club-captain Craig Williams, vice-captain Kieran Mills-Evans, utility man Neil Mitchell, goalkeeper Dave Jones, experienced midfielder Sean McAllister and talisman Nick Rushton have all committed their future to the Robins.
Midfielder Ryan Edwards and young goalkeeper Khamran Steventon have also put pen-to-paper ahead of next season.
The Robins have therefore kept the spine of their squad together, retaining a level of continuity at Latham Park, while adding to their squad in certain areas.
We take a look at Newtown’s new signings and what they will bring to the club.
James O’Neill
The Robins announced the signing of defender James O’Neill this week.
The centre-back returns to the club after six years, most recently featuring for Chasetown.
O’Neill explained in an interview for the club website, “I’m really pleased to be back, it’s easy to see the progression the club has made in the last six years so it was an easy decision for me.
“I’ve kept in contact with Chris ever since I left, and it’s nearly happened on multiple occasions over the last two or three seasons. As soon as we spoke this time I knew straight away I wanted to come back and I’m glad we got it sorted so early,” he added.
O’Neill joins a Robins defence that has been the side’s main strength of late, as only Barry Town and champions Connah’s Quay Nomads kept more clean sheets than Newtown last season.
The Robins achieved eight shut-outs, while the Linnets kept nine and the Nomads recorded eleven clean sheets respectively.
Manager Chris Hughes mostly operated with a centre-back pairing of Kieran Mills-Evans and utility player Neil Mitchell last season, the latter joining the club in 2013 as an attacking player.
O’Neill’s signing provides depth in the centre-back position and may be used as a partner for vice-captain Mills-Evans, which could see Neil Mitchell pushed further forward, as he is versatile and dependable in a number of positions.
George Hughes
Another to return to Latham Park this summer is midfielder George Hughes, who had a spell at the club on loan from Shrewsbury Town.
Hughes signs for the Robins following his departure from Airbus UK Broughton, who have been relegated to the Cymru North.
“I’m buzzing to be back, can’t wait to get started and see what the season brings,” said Hughes after his arrival was announced.
Despite the Robins’ impressive defensive record last season, Chris Hughes’ side were the lowest scorers in the Cymru Premier with just 25 goals in as many games.
Five of those goals were scored by central midfielders, with Niall Flint and Alex Fletcher netting twice, along with Sean McAllister’s strike against Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Chris Hughes will therefore hope for more goals from midfield next season and George Hughes, despite not scoring for Airbus last season, showed he is capable of finding the net during his loan spell at Latham Park, notably with a terrific strike against Barry Town.
Jordan Evans
Former Fulham and Wrexham player Jordan Evans signed for the Robins from Airbus UK Broughton last week.
Upon signing for the club, the winger tweeted, “Delighted to sign for Newtown for the coming season!”
Evans, 24, also has experience of the Cymru Premier with Cefn Druids and Bala Town, scoring the equalizer for the latter in the Welsh Cup final win over The New Saints in 2017.
Chris Hughes mostly operated with Lifumpa Mwandwe, who has since been released by Shrewsbury Town, and Joe Kenton as wingers last season, with the pair scoring a total of six goals between them.
The addition of Jordan Evans will provide the Robins with versatility, as he can play either on the wing or centrally in an attacking midfielder role, despite starting his career as a left-back.
Jamie Breese
Newtown’s first signing of the summer was the return of striker Jamie Breese from Caernarfon Town.
Breese leaves the Oval having scored more than 85 goals for the Canaries, averaging more than a goal a game.
“The decision hasn’t been easy by all means. The place has become like a second home to me and walking away from such a special place is very tough,” the striker explained on Twitter.
“With everything that has happened in the last few months, it wasn’t the way I wanted my time to end with the club.
“The 170-mile-round-trip of travelling, in the end, has taken its toll and things outside of football have to take priority.”
Breese went on to thank the Caernarfon fans, describing them as “an unbelievable part of my time at the club.”
11 of Newtown’s 25 goals last season came from their strikers, with Nick Rushton and Ian Sheridan netting four, along with George Harry’s three.
Breese scored six goals for the Cofis last season and will add competition and depth to the Robins’ front-line in their bid for a place in European competition.
James Davies
Newtown’s stand-out signing this summer has been James Davies from Cefn Druids.
The 26 year-old striker scored nine goals in Wales’ top flight last season, averaging a goal every 184 minutes.
Davies’ goal-scoring record last season saw him finish ninth in the top scorers chart, level with Cardiff Metropolitan’s Eliot Evans, Connah’s Quay Nomads’ Michael Wilde and Aberystwyth Town’s Marc Williams.
During his time at the Rock, Davies scored the goal that secured the club’s Europa League qualification in 2018 and netted the Druids’ first goal in European competition against Trakai.
The striker’ arrival, like Jordan Evans, brings versatility, as he is comfortable through the middle and on both flanks.
With Chris Hughes’ side’s defensive abilities, Davies’ pace and dynamism will be an asset to the Robins on the counter-attack.
(Featured Image: Colin Ewart and Paul Evans)
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