WHAT can City fans expect from new signing Thierry Nevers?

Chris Kirwan, the Newport County reporter from our sister paper the South Wales Argus, provides an insight on the 20-year-old’s loan spell with the Exiles in the first half of the season.

“Nevers was signed when they had an injury to their quick striker Offrande Zanzala,” he said.

“He came as a winger but they planned to play him up front and he started pretty well.

“He is quick, he’s good on the ball and has the ability to take people on. He’s a flair player, not your nuts-and-bolts type.”

Signed by previous boss James Rowberry in August, Nevers found opportunities more difficult to come by after Graham Coughlan took charge two months later.

The seven starts in his 17 Newport appearances were all for Rowberry. His seven games under Coughlan came off the bench - the last in the televised FA Cup second-round defeat to Derby at the end of November.

Kirwan added: “He was a victim of a change at the top. Coughlan has come in with a bit more of a pragmatic approach and that went against him.

“Nevers didn’t have much game time because Coughlan went with others who were more solid and stuck with them.

“But in a way he probably would have learned a lot from almost not getting in the side as well and understanding that frustration.

“Maybe he tried too hard at times when the chances came along. As a young loanee, he was obviously desperate to impress.

“He’s played on the left and likes to cut inside but he’s also played as the second striker. That’s a role that he is definitely used to.”