FORMER Newport County AFC star Regan Poole has reflected on his ‘incredible’ first season at Manchester United, admitting he owes a debt of gratitude to the Exiles and Justin Edinburgh.

The defender, who turns 18 today, also revealed that he still gets homesick and regularly makes the three-hour drive back home to visit parents Geoffrey and Maria.

Poole made his County debut as a 16-year-old in a 0-0 draw at Shrewsbury Town back in 2014 and caught the eye of Liverpool and Fulham before moving to Old Trafford last September.

And he paid tribute to Edinburgh and the club for giving him his first taste of life as a professional footballer.

“If it wasn't for Newport, I wouldn't be here now,” he told ManUtd.com. “I've got a lot to thank them for.

"I still speak to Justin Edinburgh now. He's a really nice guy and it was a massive decision to throw me in at Shrewsbury.

“I loved every minute of it – the crowd was always unbelievable and to be part of a promotion push at 16 was great."

After making 15 appearances for County under Edinburgh and his successors Jimmy Dack and Terry Butcher, Poole found the lure of a move to United impossible to resist.

"I came on trial for a week with the under-21s and, after going back to Newport, I also had trials with Liverpool and Fulham," he recalled.

"It was coming to the end of the transfer window and, although I could have stayed there, I felt it was time to move.

"It was hard on trial and I wasn't sure I'd be coming back but Warren Joyce [head coach of United’s under-21 side] came to watch me a few times in Newport's first team and he must have seen enough of me to make the decision before the end of the window.

"For me to come to United was massive and I grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

“The day before the deadline, finding out I was moving to Manchester on my own was a bit daunting but I couldn't let the opportunity slide so I came here to sign the papers and it was crazy."

After a frustrating delay due to international clearance issues, Poole finally played for the under-21s after training with the first team stars on several occasions.

“They're a great bunch of lads and even with the first team, I was surprised at how normal people like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Wayne Rooney were,” he said.

“They speak to you as if you're their friend and it's clear it's a great family club.”

But the highlight of Poole’s first season at Old Trafford was undoubtedly his cameo appearance against Midtjylland in the Europa League.

"It was an incredible experience," he said. "I was on the bench before then in the away match against Midtjylland and then at Shrewsbury in the FA Cup.

“It would have been nice to make my debut against Shrewsbury again! For me to make my debut for Manchester United, though, is just incredible. It's not a bad achievement at 17!"

As a teenager living away from home for the first time, however, Poole says he still misses Wales.

“I was a bit scared when I first joined as I'd always lived at home,” he added. “When I played for Newport I travelled for half an hour in the car.

"I live in digs now. They are really nice people. But I do miss my family a lot and, if I get a day off, I do go home. It's a three-hour drive but can be a nice surprise for them so I head home as much as I can."