Liam Shephard

Following his move to Newport County, Shephard's current-season form is down 57% on last season (Season 14→6), while his Rating eased 19→12. His peak season for form remains 2020/21 (Season 39).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	Newport County · 20th	14	1	0	6.83	12	6
2024/25	Salford City · 8th	22	1	1	6.97	19	14
2023/24	Salford City · 20th	12	0	1	6.89	20	7
2022/23	Salford City · 7th	11	0	4	7.02	24	6
2021/22	Salford City · 10th	35	3	3	6.99	29	30

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 7 earlier seasons in the full career.

Wales · international

Side	Apps	G
Wales U21	2	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Experienced headCentral defender

L. Shephard is a 31-year-old central defender at Newport County, rated 11.9 overall by Field Insider's model. A seasoned veteran, he has been a fringe squad member this season (22.1% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.95 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Shephard.

On the season, Shephard graded 6 for current form (age-blind), on 2 clean sheets and 2.954 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a drop on last season (Season 14 → 6). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2020/21.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 12. At 31 Shephard is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 0.6 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2020/21 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2020/21Holding level

11.9

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

5.9

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

22.1%

Minutes

limited game time

2.95

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Newport County finished 20th of 24 · a lower-table side

Apps

2.95

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.95 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 2 clean sheets across 14 appearances. Doing that for a lower-table side (20th of 24) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Watch points

Game time. Only 22.1% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Age curve. At 31, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 11.9 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.95 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.9× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %22.1%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900.098

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900.098

Defensive actions / 902.954

Player flow

Goal involvements1

Cards / 900

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~1), then tapers with age. At 31, Shephard sits on 0.6, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Shephard's projected Rating — 11.9 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the League Two with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Passing

Assists0

Defending

Tackles18

Interceptions6

Blocks6

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards0

Red cards0

Transfer history

PPenybontJul 2026 – nowFree

Newport CountyJun 2025 – Jul 2026Free

Salford CityJul 2021 – Jun 2025Free

Newport CountySept 2020 – Jul 2021Free

FForest GreenJun 2018 – Sept 2020

PeterboroughJul 2017 – Jun 2018Free

Swansea(back from loan)Jun 2016 – Jul 2017

YYeovil Town(on loan)Jul 2016 – Jun 2016

Swansea(back from loan)Jun 2015 – Jul 2016

YYeovil Town(on loan)Mar 2016 – Jun 2015

YYeovil Town(on loan)Jan 2015 – Mar 2016

Swanseauntil Jan 2015

About L. Shephard

Liam Shephard is a 31-year-old centre-back who plays for Newport County, born on November 22, 1994 in Pentre, standing 178 cm tall. He is from Wales. Newport County currently sit 11th of 24 in the League Two.

This season

In the current season, L. Shephard has made 14 appearances with 1 goal and 0 assists across 914 minutes.

L. Shephard's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Newport County face Tranmere at home in the League Two.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates L. Shephard at 11.9 with a Season form score of 5.9. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

Career

Across 12 recorded seasons, L. Shephard has totalled 288 club appearances with 14 goals and 12 assists for 6 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2020/21, with 45 appearances for Newport County.

L. Shephard's career has also included time at PPenybont, Salford City, FForest Green, Peterborough, Swansea and YYeovil Town.

On the international stage, L. Shephard has represented Wales U21 — 2 caps in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Newport County finished 20th of 24 · a lower-table side

Watch points