Michael Flynn: FA Cup tie with Brighton puts Newport on map

County will welcome Brighton and Hove Albion to Rodney Parade in the famous competition on the weekend of January 9.

It could mean a return to Newport for highly-rated defender Ben White, who had a stunning season on loan at the Exiles in 2017/18.

Manager Flynn has led his team to the third round in the last four seasons with previous upsets of Leeds United and Leicester City before last year’s defeat at Championship side Millwall.

The Exiles’ win against Leeds earned a high-profile encounter against Tottenham when Harry Kane’s late equaliser led to a replay at Wembley.

Their upset against the Foxes was followed by a win against Middlesbrough of the Championship to earn an encounter with Manchester City’s superstars.

Flynn can’t wait to lock horns with Brighton, who sit 16th in the top flight and drew with champions Liverpool at the weekend.

"It's a fantastic draw. It puts the club on the map again. It's another year when we've brought a Premier League club to Rodney Parade,” said Flynn to BBC Radio Wales.

"You never get bored of it. You always want the excitement of a big game, but you want it more regular - the more you taste it, the more you want it.

"It's a fantastic achievement. The players have done unbelievably to keep putting us in this position so they deserve the credit to be fair."

As things stand the fixture will be played behind closed doors and the very best that County could hope for is a few thousand fans in the 8,000-capacity Rodney Parade.

The Exiles hierarchy will hope that the Brighton game is chosen for live television coverage to provide a financial boost.

Their Carabao Cup clash against Newcastle earlier this season was shown by Sky Sports, providing a six-figure fee.

County played Brighton in the EFL Cup in 2013 when they stunned the Seagulls, then in the Championship, on the south coast of England.

Justin Edinburgh’s side triumphed 3-1 thanks to a double by Danny Crow and a clincher from Conor Washington.