Energetic former Hatter Stuart Douglas is enjoying helping Newport County in their quest for the Conference South title.

The striker is on-loan at Spytty Park from Blue Square South rivals Bath and scored his first goal in last Tuesday's 5-1 win at Basingstoke.

Douglas, 31, who had career-saving surgery in the summer when prolapsed discs in his spine left him in serious pain and unable to play during pre-season, said: "I went for an MRI scan and was told that the only way I could play on was to have the operation and have titanium plates in my neck. My main concern was that I'd still be able to play football in the park with my six-month-old son Marley and thankfully I'm fine now."

The fully qualified physiotherapist, who played over 150 times for the Hatters between 1995 and 2002, was out for four months and was delighted to join Dean Holdsworth's Exiles, runaway leaders in Blue Square South, on loan after struggling to get back in the picture at Bath.

He added: "I'm very grateful to Adie Britton (Bath boss) and Dean Holdsworth for giving me the opportunity. It's fantastic to be a part of a team like this.

"We're just riding the crest of a wave at the moment and, going into games, we feel like the only team who can beat us is ourselves. It was a no-brainer of a decision really and I'm hoping both parties will be happy to extend the loan when the initial five weeks are up."