Whitmore hoping to emulate ex-Newport star Evans

Newport County midfielder Kai Whitmore hopes to emulate former Exile Will Evans’ progression from Cymru Premier to League One level.

Ex-Cardiff Met striker Evans, 27, joined League One side Mansfield Town for a six-figure fee last summer, two years after first turning professional in League Two with Newport.

Whitmore, 23, joined County from Cymru Premier team Haverfordwest County in June 2024 and scored his second goal of the season in Saturday's defeat to Peterborough United in the FA Cup. It was the midfielder’s first start since recovering from a calf injury.

When asked if he would like to follow in the footsteps of Evans, who has scored five goals for Mansfield, Whitmore said: "Yeah definitely, I’m trying my best.

"I came in [to the club] wanting to do my best and to see where it goes and I see Will Evans, he was the same and moved on.

"It was frustrating being injured that long, I think it was eight weeks in the end but it was my first start back and I got a goal.

"There’s obviously competition and you’re not allowed to come straight back to start, you’ve got to build up the minutes. I was tired, mind you.

"We want to win every game, there’s a big block of games coming up to January and we want to win as much as we can."