NEWPORT ACE SEMENYO A STAR IN THE MAKING

...but Vardy will have been hiding behind the sofa!

tHe Fa Cup third round has long been a stage upon which players announce themselves. In front of the BBC cameras, Newport’s antoine semenyo showed he is a star in the making.

the forward, who turns 19 today, impressed me with everything he did against leicester.

He took on a Premier leaguewinning right back in Danny simpson and gave him a torrid time. such were the problems semenyo caused him that Claude Puel took him off after an hour.

semenyo looked dangerous every time he got on the ball. He was a strong outlet at the top of the team — powerful in the air and comfortable bringing the ball down with his chest.

He is on loan from Bristol City but after that performance I would not be surprised if Premier league clubs start watching this exciting prospect.

It was not just semenyo who shone. Newport had all the ingredients you need for a giantkilling: a strong defence, workmanlike midfield and pace up front.

Newport manager Mike Flynn pulled off a masterstroke by switching from his usual back three to a back four.

Puel paid the price for picking a midfield with little game- time this season, plus strikers Kelechi Iheanacho and shinji Okazaki, who are out of form.

Jamie Vardy, rested for the trip to Wales, must have been watching this from behind the sofa. as another year goes by, another chance for the striker to lift the Fa Cup goes by.