Manager James Rowberry has backed young striker Rob Street to continue to lead the line for Newport County AFC in the absence of Courtney Baker-Richardson.

Street has started the last three matches alongside 25-goal star Dom Telford and has yet to find the net himself, but Rowberry is happy with the Crystal Palace loanee’s performances.

“There’s no pressure on Rob,” said the Exiles boss. “If you look at his link-up play in the goal against Forest Green, he brings other players into the game.

“What Rob does, like a lot of players here, is bring endeavour and work-rate and desire to work hard for the team. Rob will continue to do that, and he will reap the rewards in the long term.”

The 20-year-old will nevertheless hope to get off the mark as County travel to struggling Stevenage this weekend and he can take inspiration from midfielder James Waite who scored the only goal of the game on his first start against Bristol Rovers last week.

Waite could keep his place in the starting XI with Oli Cooper an injury doubt but Rowberry has warned fans not to expect match-winning heroics from the Cwmbran man every week.

“I keep saying that James is kind of a long-term project for this football club, and we’ll keep focusing on his development,” said the manager. “We won’t put pressure on James and hopefully he keeps enjoying his football.

“I’ve known him for a long time and I believed he had the potential to play at this level. I had the belief that he had the potential to play at Cardiff and I genuinely believe he can produce. I think he’ll go from strength to strength.

“I’m delighted for James, and we all were. Watching it back, you could see the reaction of Scot Bennett and Mickey Demetriou and all the lads and us on the bench when James scored.”

Liverpool loanee Jake Cain revealed that Waite’s goal came as no surprise to his teammates.

“He’s been doing that in training since he came in,” said Cain.

“We see that little shimmy and the finish every Friday before the game in the 5v5 matches we play. We were really happy for him and proud of him. He took his chance well.”

Like Street, Cain is yet to find the net for County and he’s desperate to chip in with his fair share of goals.

“I’ve been playing a bit deeper this year than I’ve been used to in the under-23s and under-18s and the goals haven’t come yet but I’m getting closer,” he said.

“I think it’s only a matter of time. I’m due one and hopefully it comes this week.”