SATURDAY’S goal hero Kyle Howkins is confident he and Mark O’Brien can shut out his hometown club Walsall tonight and help earn Newport County AFC another three points.

Howkins is set to start for County at Bescot Stadium, which is just two miles from where he was born back in 1996, with Mickey Demetriou facing an extended period on the sidelines due to injury.

Demetriou was forced off with a suspected broken bone in his leg after just 21 minutes against Plymouth Argyle.

Howkins came off the bench to help the Exiles keep a clean sheet and headed home the only goal of the game from Ryan Haynes’ cross nine minutes from time.

“I’m absolutely delighted with the three points and it’s a real bonus to get the goal as well,” said the 6ft 5ins central defender.

“It’s my first of the season and I said at the start that I wanted to get more so this is a great way to kick it off.

“It got us the three points as well so I’m absolutely delighted.”

Howkins revealed that it was words of advice from manager Michael Flynn and assistant boss Wayne Hatswell that spurred him on to score.

“Hats said to me in the week that he wanted me to get on the end of more crosses and thankfully I managed to put it away,” said the 23-year-old.

“It was a good ball off Ryan’s right foot, which I was surprised about. He found my head and I was so happy to see it hit the back of the net.

“I’d like to get five goals this season,” he added. “I don’t get many – the most I’ve got in a season before is probably two so I’m halfway there already. It’s a great start.”

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Demetriou’s disappointment means opportunity for Howkins and he believes he has worked up an understanding with O’Brien at the heart of the defence after also playing alongside the Irishman in last week's Carabao Cup win at Gillingham.

“It looks quite bad for Mickey, it wasn’t nice to see him go over the way he did,” he said.

“I had to come in and do a job and we kept a clean sheet.

“OB is really good to play alongside. I think we’ve looked quite solid.

“Gillingham was a bit crazy with three penalties against us but I think we’ve got a good partnership and we can carry that forward.”

But Howkins is not underestimating the challenge posed by Walsall and he will be able to count on some extra support against the Saddlers, who have won one, drawn one and lost one so far.

“It will be another difficult test,” said the former West Bromwich Albion man.

“I’m sure they’ll be up there this season but we’ll be looking to come away with another three points.

“I’ll be going back home – it’s just down the road from where I grew up so there’ll be quite a clan there and they’ll be cheering on me and the team.”

Read more: Ryan Haynes confident Newport County can continue impressive start