By Terry Phillips
Scottish international David Goodwillie, a former Cardiff City target, looks a potent threat to Newport County hopes of securing an FA Cup third round tie against Liverpool at Anfield.
Goodwillie will lead Plymouth Argyle’s attack in their second round replay against the Exiles at Rodney Parade on Wednesday (7.30pm).
The winners will earn that trip to Merseyside in January.
Stirling-born forward Goodwillie, 27, was a major target for ex-Bluebirds manager Malky Mackay when he was recruiting the team who won promotion to the Premier League in 2013.
Mackay had already signed Craig Conway from Dundee United when he went back and tried to prise Goodwillie away, but he eventually joined Blackburn Rovers in a £2m-plus transfer.
Goodwillie is now a key player for League Two leaders Argyle, although he has yet to score in 19 appearances for the club he joined on a free transfer from Scottish Premier League Aberdeen last summer.
But Plymouth manager Derek Adams has no doubts about his striker, saying ‘he is a fantastic player’.
Adams points out that Goodwillie’s running off the ball was not always spotted by team-mates.
He netted 10 times in pre-season, but the goals have dried up for him since then.
Goodwillie, though, set up Craig Tanner’s only goal in Plymouth’s 1-0 win at Accrington Stanley last weekend.
“He is a fantastic player,” says Adams. “Sometimes people don’t see him making the runs and don’t find him. A top player and he’s probably too good for this division.
“We are lucky to have him, but he hasn’t had the break to get him the goal he deserves.
“He has hit the bar a few times and had shots blocked. His movement is exceptionally good.”
Wednesday’s cup tie looks certain to go ahead after County ensured the pitch is fully covered to protect it from rain.
The Exiles, who share the stadium with Newport RFC and Newport Gwent Dragons, have already seen one League Two home match postponed this season and two abandoned at half-time due to the waterlogged surface.
County will earned a television fee of £37,000 for Wednesday’s match, while the broadcast fee for the team who go forward to play at Anfield on Sunday, January 8 would be £144,000.
If Wednesday’s replay was not completed it is likely to be staged on third round day and both TV fees would be in doubt.
This cup clash features the League Two leaders against a Newport team who are adrift at the bottom. But manager Graham Westley and his Exiles will put relegation worries to the back of their minds over the next couple of days and focus on their FA Cup challenge.
As soon as the second round tie is finalised they will turn back to the league and their two remaining fixtures remaining in 2016. Portsmouth visit Rodney Parade on Boxing Day with Exeter City coming to South Wales on Saturday, December 31.