FORMER Newport County AFC captain Darren Jones insists his former Rodney Parade team-mate Regan Poole has a bright future after the teenager penned a deal at Manchester United.

Poole,17, move to United was concluded just before the 6pm deadline on Tuesday with the fee officially undisclosed but believed to be an initial £100,000, potentially rising to £400,000.

The County scholar, who was released by Cardiff City in the summer of 2014, is set to play for the United under-18s side for the remainder of this season.

Jones, who left Newport for Forest Green in the summer, said: “Regan played alongside me last season in League Two and did well. His ability for his age is frightening and he has a good future ahead of him and has gone to the best club in the world.”

Meanwhile, Jones has had a frustrating start to his third spell at Forest Green, sustaining a calf injury on the eve of the new season.

He said: “I don't think I’ve had a muscle injury in 10 years and I did it in the last two minutes of training when jogging across the pitch and my calf went into spasm.”

Jones made his comeback as second half substitute in the 2-1 victory over Bromley on Bank Holiday Monday and will come into contention for the leaders trip to Chester this Saturday with doubts over Dale Bennett (broken nose) and James Jennings (hamstring).

Rovers have a training game tomorrow and Jones is keen to hit the ground running.

"I am ready to start a game now. Wes (Ian Weston) and Joe Baker have been brilliant as has Neil Withington on the fitness side.

"The lads have been fantastic and I can’t expect the gaffer to drop anyone when the team have won the opening seven games, but at the same time I expect to play but it’s a tough one for the gaffer, but I need to take my chance.”

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