How Walsall new boy Sven Sprangler helped keep Newport in the EFL

New Walsall midfielder Sven Sprangler had big boots to fill when he joined Newport County on loan earlier this year.

Newport found themselves in the eye of a relegation storm, but Leicester City loanee Sammy Braybrooke had served as a rare ray of sunshine in an otherwise painful campaign.

The Newport supporters dubbed him the ‘Leicester Iniesta’ as Braybrooke started every game for them in League Two.

That was until Leicester recalled him and shipped him back out on loan to partner ex-Saddlers midfielder Ryan Stirk at Chesterfield.

While Braybrooke challenged for the play-offs, Sprangler was drafted into help with the Exiles’ fight for survival.

Newport were second-bottom when Sprangler arrived from St Johnstone and three points adrift of safety.

“I am fighter and a team player. I will give everything for the team and the badge,” Sprangler vowed upon his arrival.

One of the most alluring factors of the move to Rodney Parade was the chance to work under his Austrian compatriot and former Premier League winner Christian Fuchs.

His experience complimented the team and his arrival marked a turning point for Newport.

Newport had collected a mere 20 points from their opening games in League Two and had emerged with just five wins in the process.

Although results were not initially forthcoming, Sprangler came in and shored up the midfield from the outset.

His game was clearly not about goals or assists, but his ability to break up the play and read the game earned him plaudits from the Newport supporters.

Eventually the results improved too. Newport beat Salford 3-1 in February and prevailed by the same score-line against relegation rivals Tranmere Rovers in early March.

They went on to pull off a surprise win at play-off chasing Barnet in mid March, but still found themselves languishing a point above the drop-zone, after losing to Walsall on March 21.

Crucial wins against Shrewsbury Town and Harrogate Town followed during the run-in, but safety had yet to be confirmed heading into the penultimate game.

They trailed at half-time at home to Oldham Athletic, but remarkably completed a 3-2 turnaround courtesy of former Saddlers trialist Bobby Kamwa’s 108th-minute winner.

It went down to the wire and a final day showdown with direct rivals Barrow.

Charlie McCann’s early goal meant Newport had tumbled into the drop-zone and that was how it remained until Tom Davies levelled 14 minutes from time.

And the Exiles’ EFL status was preserved when Sprangler chipped the ball out to an unmarked Kamwa on the left.

He tricked his way inside and curled a sumptuous, but more importantly, crucial match-winner into the far corner.

Sprangler had been at the club for all of four months, but was rewarded with the Exiles’ manager of the season award.

Newport were even reportedly interested in signing him permanently this summer until Walsall won the race for his signature.

In the wake of Brandon Comley’s exit, Walsall need a specialist in breaking up play, and from the evidence of his Newport spell, Sprangler could be the ideal replacement.