MICHAEL Flynn may not think so but he does have something in common with Jose Mourinho.

Neither of them are clearly big fans of late-night roadworks on the M6.

While the Special One moaned about Manchester United’s delayed trek home from Chelsea, Flynn was crawling into bed at 4am on Wednesday.

But unlike Mourinho, Flynn had travelled back to south Wales from Morecambe with an away win as precious company.

Played two, won two as Newport caretaker boss – the fans at a club seemingly doomed for a return to non-league could be excused for thinking they have unearthed a managerial Messiah.

A team that had managed just one victory in their previous 20 games are off the bottom of the Football League for the first time since November.

But the former Bradford City captain will bat away any plaudits ahead of a ten-game season that will determine his hometown’s status.

“I’ve not done anything yet,” he said. “Two away wins is a good start but we have to continue to scrap and fight for every point.

“But the players have been brilliant. They’ve all taken to me really well and responded in the way that I expected. We’re seven points behind with a game in hand. It’s still a big task but it’s not impossible.

“We’ll keep trying to narrow that gap every week and get within striking distance to put the pressure on one or two teams above us.”

Flynn is Newport’s third boss this season, getting the nod eight days ago when Graham Westley was shown the door after a 4-0 home thumping by fellow cellar-dwellers Leyton Orient.

The transformation has restored hope where there was none – and attracted attention from some of the game’s biggest hitters.

Flynn woke up Wednesday morning to a congratulatory text from Thierry Henry, a class mate from the UEFA Pro Licence course they are on with the Welsh Football Trust.

Flynn recently came out of a 20-month retirement to don his playing boots for five games as injuries bit deep. But he will not be tempted to pick himself again.

“I’ve always looked after myself so I think it went okay. The break probably helped me if I’m honest.

“To play three games in a week was testing but I’m not the box-to-box midfielder I once was. Experience helped me get through it.

“But we’ve got a few back now and I don’t think I’d be giving the club or the players everything if I was out there. You see it differently from the sidelines when you’re not so wrapped up in what’s going on around you.

“Going back to my Bradford days, one thing I would never do is give up or quit. That’s not me.

“As a player I never gave less than 100 per cent and I wouldn’t expect anything else off the team here.”

Stuart McCall signed Flynn at Valley Parade in 2009 and he went on to play over 100 games for the club. The pair spoke when McCall returned to City and Flynn plans to call his old manager for advice in the coming weeks.

The 36-year-old already appreciates the stress and strain that comes with the job.

He laughed: “There were seven added minutes on Tuesday. I thought we were nearly there and turned to the bench to ask how long was left – it was still six to go!

“I’ve never been so happy to hear the final whistle.

“I still kick every ball but I try to do it in a controlled manner. I don’t want any nervousness spilling out on the players.

“I’ve got to be on the side how I want them being on the pitch, playing with their heads and not panicking if they make a mistake.”

Tomorrow is his first home game in charge against Blackpool. Newport have won only twice in the previous 17 at Rodney Parade.

Flynn added: “We’ve struggled at home since Justin Edinburgh left. If I knew why that was I’d be managing at a very high level.

“But we’ve got to make it a fortress now to have any chance.

“I’ve had some great times as a player – two promotions in a great team at Wigan and then at Wembley with Newport in the same season that Bradford went up as well. That was pretty special.

“But the enormity of this would have to be my biggest achievement in football. I’m not one to get carried away but everybody has written us off so if we could do it that would be unbelievable.”