MICHAEL Flynn believes his current squad is the best he’s assembled as Newport County AFC manager.

Flynn saved his hometown club from relegation in 2017 before guiding County to 11th place in League Two last season and the fourth round of the FA Cup.

But the Exiles boss is convinced that his current crop, who are second in the table after six games, is the best yet.

“I think it is the best squad I’ve had,” he said ahead of Saturday’s trip to sixth-placed Oldham Athletic.

“I still think one or two who have gone would have been valuable to the squad as well so I’m not being disrespectful to certain players [who have gone] but definitely there’s more players who can compete for a starting place now, instead of being squad players.

“We just need to keep that going and keep on top of them so that when they do get their chance they can come in and produce the goods.”

Teenage strikers Antoine Semenyo (concussion) and Mark Harris (Wales under-21 duty) both miss the trip Boundary Park, while Andrew Crofts (ankle) and Robbie Willmott (hamstring) are doubtful, but Flynn is hopeful of continuing the team’s excellent start to the season.

“I don’t take any notice of the league table at the moment,” he said. “It’s nice to be doing well but we’ve got to keep it going game by game and not get carried away.

“You only need a few injuries and it’s going to be really tough.

“It’s good that we’re getting points on the board but that’s all we’re doing at the moment.

“I’ve got a great group,” he added. “They work hard for each other day in and day out and they’ve all got each other’s backs.

“It’s exciting at the minute but we’ve got to keep backing it up.

“It’ll get to a point where they’ll believe in themselves and hopefully that happens and it won’t fade away.”

Asked about his targets for the season, Flynn said: “I don’t want to sound too enthusiastic and I don’t want to sound too negative. I’m just taking it game by game.

“I could easily say we’re on course for 90 points and I want to finish in the top two but I’m not going to say that.

“And I’m not going to say I want to get to 50 points as quickly as possible because that means we’re safe – that would be construed as being negative.

“I just want to keep taking it game by game, keep surprising people, keep improving on and off the pitch as a team and as a coaching group and we’ll see where it takes us.”

As well as getting results, County are winning plaudits for their more attractive playing style this season.

“I’ve always encouraged them to play football,” said Flynn.

“We’ve worked on it. I’ve never said ‘just kick it as long as you can’ because I’d hate that, especially being a midfielder.

“Sometimes players got into that mentality and other teams said we were a long-ball team or a direct side because of the set-plays and the long-throws when they hit a lot more long balls than us.

“Because it’s little old Newport it’s easy for them to say that but now I think the boys are carrying out what we’re trying to do exactly the way we want it.

“But I couldn’t really care less what people are saying outside [the camp]. We’ve played a few teams this season and they’ve said how good we looked.

“A certain manager said ‘you absolutely played us off the park, we didn’t deserve anything and I won’t say that in the press but I’ll say it to you.’

“Every manager has got to look after themselves and when you lose to little old Newport it must be damaging.”