TOP scorer Jamille Matt took his tally to nine goals with the equaliser at Bury on Tuesday night but he insists that fellow striker Antoine Semenyo is just as important for Newport County AFC.

Semenyo has three goals to his name so far, including the 98th-minute winner against Stevenage in the Exiles’ last home match, as well as notching up assists for Matt’s strikes at Crawley Town last Saturday and at Bury.

And, as County return to Rodney Parade to take on Morecambe tomorrow afternoon, Matt was keen to highlight his fellow striker’s contribution.

“I’m getting a few goals at the minute and I’m happy to keep scoring, especially if it picks up points for the team but I’ve got to give credit to Antoine,” said the 29-year-old.

“He came on and changed the game and he put in a great ball for me [at Bury]. I thrive on those sorts of crosses so I have to say thanks to him for the assist.

“I know what he can do with the ball and without the ball,” he added. “Physically he’s brilliant and with the ball at his feet he’s fantastic.

“There’s nothing the lad can’t do and, if he continues that way and keeps improving, he’s got a great career ahead of him.”

Manager Michael Flynn is also a big fan of the 18-year-old, who is on loan from Bristol City, and he admits that he has a selection dilemma up front this weekend.

Semenyo is competing with fellow teenager Mark Harris for a place alongside Matt and Padraig Amond.

“That’s for the gaffer to decide,” said Matt. “It’s a good headache for him to have because I think all of us bring different things to the team.

“We’ve still got Sparky [Harris] on the bench as well. He started the season fantastically and probably because he’s been away with Wales he’s been a victim of that but we’ve got competition all over the place.

“We’ve still got very good players to come back from injury as well so it stands us in good stead.”

Matt, a summer signing from Blackpool, was also excited to see Joss Labadie return to the club this week after his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament knee injury.

“It’s fantastic to welcome back Labs,” he said. “He’s been around the place doing his rehab in pre-season and he’s a big character.

“Even when he wasn’t training with us he was a big character and he’s someone who welcomed me to the club.

“It’s brilliant to have him back because these are the type of characters you need to help you have a run towards the top end of the season.

“He’s a good player with and without the ball. He’s very aggressive and he’s a leader and the more leaders you’ve got the better.

“I’ve had a similar kind of injury to him and I’ve not had a serious one since.

“I’m sure he’s done everything right in his recovery and he’ll be back in no time to help the lads on the pitch.”

It’s unlikely that Labadie will be fit to feature this weekend but Matt believes that County can get back to winning ways if they cut out the individual errors that have cost them goals in the last few games.

“We are making silly little mistakes at the minute and if we can cut that out of our game then we’ll be taking even more points off teams,” he added.

“We were happy to take the point [at Bury] after going 1-0 down but there are still things to work on and if we can work on the small margins we can definitely pick up more points.

“We’re honest with ourselves and when we’re below par we give each other a bit of stick. We do it in the right way and everyone takes it on board.

“If someone is having a below par performance we’ve got to make sure we stick together and get them back up to par.

“If we do that throughout the season then who knows what we can achieve?”