NEW signing Josh Laurent wants to help Newport County AFC climb the League Two table and earn an extended stay at Rodney Parade.

The 20-year-old midfielder, signed on loan from Brentford on Wednesday, is set to make his County debut in today’s home clash with league leaders Leyton Orient.

And Laurent believes he and fellow new boy Zak Ansah, a 21-year-old striker on loan from Charlton Athletic, can play a big part as the Exiles look to kick-start their season after three defeats and a draw from their opening four games.

“I’ve heard that the team has been playing well and the results don’t reflect the way that they’ve been playing,” said Laurent.

“But it’s only been a couple of games and the team is still gelling.

“Hopefully I can help the team climb up the table gradually.

“I’m here for 28 days but hopefully we can extend that after a few games once I’ve shown the gaffer what I can do.

“Hopefully I can impress here and then the word will get back to Brentford as well.

“I want to stay for as long as possible and get as many games as possible under my belt.”

He added: “I’ve played right wing and centre-back as well but I think centre-midfield, box-to-box, is my position.

“I’ve got a lot of energy and I like to work hard and get around the pitch and I’m not bad on the ball, to be fair.”

The former Wycombe Wanderers and Queens Park Rangers youth made 16 appearances for Braintree in the Conference last year.

He made his Brentford debut in last week’s 4-0 Capital One Cup defeat to Oxford United but today’s match would be his Football League debut.

“I want to do my best for the team and I can’t wait to play. I’m buzzing,” said Laurent.

“I played my first game for Brentford and we were 3-0 down in ten minutes so it was one to forget.

“Hopefully I can create some better memories here!

“It’s a home game and I’m looking forward to playing in front of the home fans so they can get to know me.

“I’m hearing good things about Rodney Parade – that the pitch is really nice and the fans are really good as well.”

Laurent says he had no hesitation in joining County once he’d done his homework on boss Terry Butcher.

“I got the call on Monday about the interest and it was all sorted pretty quickly and I couldn’t wait to come,” he said.

“They told me that Terry was the manager and I looked him up and seen that he played for England and Ipswich and he was the manager at Brentford for a while.

“They told me he was a nice guy and that it would be the right move for me.”