EDDIE Odhiambo can’t wait to be reunited with the “amazing” Newport County AFC fans on Sunday.

The former County favourite will line up for Brackley Town when the two sides meet in the FA Cup first round at St James Park.

Odhiambo was a key part of the Exiles’ first Conference campaign in more than two decades under manager Dean Holdsworth in the 2010-2011 season.

The Tanzania-born utility player featured as a right-back and midfielder as County stormed up to second in the table by the end of 2010.

A run of 12 games without a win in the new year, before and after Holdsworth’s departure for Aldershot Town, put paid to any hopes of back-to-back promotions.

And Odhiambo was shown the door at Spytty Park by new manager Anthony Hudson in the summer of 2011 but he looks back on his one season in amber with fondness.

“I’m looking forward to the game – you always want to do well against one of your former teams,” said the 30-year-old, who made 32 appearances for County.

“I’ve missed big chunks of the past few seasons with a couple of knee problems but I’ve worked hard with the physios and featured in recent weeks and I’m fit and available for selection.

“It will be good to see the County fans again because they were always good to me and they always travelled in numbers.

“I remember the game at Gateshead when they were all in the stands dressed as Elvis and Barney Rubble, which was great to see from the pitch.

“They are amazing fans and I hope they enjoy themselves again on Sunday – not too much though as I want us to win.

“I’m confident that we’ll acquit ourselves well and put on a good show and we think we could cause an upset.”

A lot has changed since Odhiambo’s time at the club and he says he still wonders what might have been if Holdsworth had stayed.

“I think Andrew Hughes is the only one still there from my time and it will be good to see him again,” he said.

“I made lots of good friends in my time in Newport and really enjoyed my football there.

“For the first six or seven months of that season under Dean Holdsworth we were flying and if he hadn’t left I think we were on course to make the play-offs.

“It was a shame that we fell away because it was a really good team and the fact that a lot of the lads have gone on to do really well shows that.

“I still keep in touch with a few of the lads like Sam Foley and Gary Warren and I was best man at Danny Rose’s wedding recently so we’re still pretty tight!”