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Development Squad

Hard work the key for Boutin ahead of Exiles clash

The development squad returns to Canford Park Arena on Tuesday for another friendly, this time taking on Newport County.

County’s visit offers interim coach Bruce Suraci and his team a third run out of four friendlies ahead of the next Premier League Cup outing.

Having featured in the games against Luton Town’s and Wycombe Wanderers’ youngsters, defender Noa Boutin has his eyes on more minutes.

“I’m enjoying it,” he explained to afcb.co.uk. “We haven’t got many games, so we just have to enjoy the games when we get those minutes.

“We have to keep working with the team and be ready for the Premier League Cup as well.”

The quad of friendlies, which finish with a game against Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium, will pose varying tests for the development squad.

Those tests are ones which Boutin is revelling in as he looks to ready himself for involvement against Queens Park Rangers on 21st November (7pm kick-off).

“I’m just taking the experiences as they come,” Boutin said.

“Playing at the stadium against Luton or playing on a training pitch against Wycombe, I just need to keep working.

“It’s better to play in a stadium but if you’re at a training ground you still have to play and keep going.”

He added: “We want to win the next few games and keep working with the team to be ready for the Premier League Cup.

“I missed the last game against Derby because I was out on loan at Weymouth, so I’m excited to be involved against QPR.”

Further experiences for the young full-back this term came by way of that loan move to the Terras which recently came to an end.

While at the Bob Lucas Stadium, Boutin made eight Vanarama National League South appearances and the Frenchman feels they can be another learning curve for him ahead of tomorrow’s friendly.

He said: “It was a bit tough for me, to be honest.

“I joined in August and we didn’t win a game. It was a tough experience but I have to use that.”

Kick-off against Newport on Tuesday 1st November in Canford will be at 1pm.