NEWPORT County assistant manager Andy Todd has stated loud and clear what is needed at Rodney Parade this season: “We want characters, we want men, we want leaders.”

Warren Feeney’s deputy is pleased with what he has seen from the new-look squad so far this summer and would like to witness more of it today when Coventry City visit Spytty Park (3pm).

Todd was pleased with how the club’s tour to Poland went and at the way the players are gelling, although he knows it is still a work in progress.

“We’ve had 13 or 14 players come in and it’s going to take time but the trip to Poland was a good week for them all to get to know each other,” he said.

“We want characters, we want men, and we want leaders this season.

“We want players that are going to demand performances from themselves and their teammates.

“I’ve noticed that there are some decent characters in there.

“We need a bit of edge to our play now and again, and we need players that are going to stand up and be counted.

“We need players at the club with the right mentality.”

In the Sky Blues, County face a side who not all that long ago were mixing it with the big boys in the Premier League.

However, relegation from the top flight and subsequent problems off the field see them sitting just one division above the Exiles.

Manager Tony Mowbray has recruited steadily this summer, bringing in the likes of ex-Bolton and Burnley forward Marvin Sordell and fellow striker Kwame Thomas from Derby.

Looking at today’s game, Todd added: “Coventry will be bringing a decent squad and they will move the ball well.

“We are gearing up for the first game of the season and the Coventry game will be a good test for us.

“We had two games out in Poland and slowly but surely we’re getting fitter and sharper, moving the ball a little bit better, and it’s all about not getting any injuries for that first game of the season.

“We’ve had some tough days and some down time because it’s a long season and games get us fit.

“We’ve been pushing them but we don’t want them peaking too soon.

“It’s a long season and we don’t want them blowing up by Christmas.

“Pre-season is very important to get that base but the games will get us fit.”