Luke Owen Jephcott (born 26 January 2000) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a striker for EFL League Two club Newport County. He is a former Wales under-21 international.

Luke Jephcott
Personal information
Full name Luke Owen Jephcott[1]
Date of birth (2000-01-26) 26 January 2000 (age 24)[2]
Place of birth Aberystwyth, Wales[3]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.77 m)[4]
Position(s) Striker[2]
Team information
Current team
Newport County
Number 31
Youth career
2007–2013 Wendron United
2013–2014 Helston Athletic
2014–2019 Plymouth Argyle
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2023 Plymouth Argyle 106 (33)
2019–2020Truro City (loan) 18 (8)
2022–2023Swindon Town (loan) 32 (7)
2023–2024 St Johnstone 8 (0)
2024– Newport County 21 (0)
International career
2018–2019 Wales U19[5] 7 (4)
2020–2022 Wales U21 12 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:28, 21 September 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:13, 22 October 2022 (UTC)

Club career

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Plymouth Argyle

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Whilst still an apprentice, Jephcott made his professional debut in the EFL League One on 20 October 2018. He featured against Burton Albion in a 3–2 defeat, replacing Stuart O'Keefe in the 86th minute. Jephcott's full debut came ten days later, when he started in a 5-0 EFL Trophy defeat to Chelsea U21s.[6]

In August 2019, Jephcott joined Truro City on loan.[7] He was recalled by his parent club, Plymouth Argyle, in January 2020.[8]

Jephcott won both the EFL League Two Player of the Month and EFL Young Player of the Month awards for January 2020, after scoring 5 goals in 4 starts in January 2020.[9][10] Jephcott finished the season with 7 goals in 14 games as Plymouth won promotion to League One.[11]

Jepchott started the 2020-21 League One season strongly by scoring the winner for Plymouth on the opening day against Blackpool.[12] He scored 1 in the next 7 games before starting a sensational run of form, scoring 14 goals in the next 18 league games, which attracted interest from a clutch of Championship clubs including Stoke City and Cardiff City.[13]

On 1 September 2022, Jephcott signed for EFL League Two club Swindon Town on an initial loan deal with the option to join the club permanently.[14]

He was released by Plymouth following their promotion to the EFL Championship at the end of the 2022–23 season.[15]

St Johnstone

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On 21 July 2023, Jephcott signed a two-year deal with Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone.[16]

Newport County

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On 25 January 2024 Jephcott joined EFL League Two club Newport County on a free transfer[17] He made his debut for Newport County in the 2-1 League Two win against Swindon Town on 3 February 2024 as a second half substitute.[18]

International career

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On 9 September 2018 Jephcott made his Wales U19 debut in a friendly against Ireland U19s at the City Calling Stadium. Wales won the game 1–0.

Jephcott was first called up to the Wales U19 team in 2018. He made his debut for Wales Under 21s in a 3–0 win against Moldova.[19]

Career statistics

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As of end of 2022–23 season
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Plymouth Argyle 2018–19[20] League One 9 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 10 0
2019–20[21] League Two 14 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 7
2020–21[22] League One 41 16 4 2 0 0 1[a] 0 46 18
2021–22[22] League One 40 10 1 0 2 1 0[a] 0 43 11
2022–23[22] League One 2 0 0 0 1 0 0[a] 0 3 0
Total 106 33 5 2 3 1 2 0 118 37
Truro City (loan) 2019–20[23] Southern Football League Premier South 18 5 2 0 1[b] 0 21 5
Swindon Town (loan) 2022–23[22] League Two 32 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 33 7
St Johnstone 2023–24 Scottish Premiership 7 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 10 0
Career total 163 45 7 2 2 1 3 0 178 49
  1. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Purrington" (PDF). English Football League. p. 54. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Luke Jephcott - Striker". Plymouth Argyle. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  3. ^ Cowdery, Rick (12 March 2018). "Luke Jephcott Interview". The Pilgrim Matchday Programme, Plymouth Argyle vs Shrewsbury Town.
  4. ^ "Luke Jephcott - Forward - First Team - Plymouth Argyle". Plymouth Argyle F.C. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  5. ^ Luke Jephcott at Soccerway
  6. ^ "Luke Jephcott making the most of busy schedule of matches". The Herald (Plymouth). 9 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  7. ^ Errington, Chris (2 August 2019). "Luke Jephcott set goals target by Ryan Lowe after Truro loan move". plymouthherald. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  8. ^ "Jephcott Recalled". www.pafc.co.uk. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Sky Bet League Two: Manager and Player of the Month January winners". www.efl.com. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Luke Jephcott: Plymouth Argyle forward named EFL Young Player of Month for January". BBC Sport. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  11. ^ "League Two clubs vote to end season". BBC Sport.
  12. ^ "Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Blackpool". BBC Sport.
  13. ^ "Stoke City and Luke Jephcott: What do we know so far? Is it likely to happen?". 15 February 2021.
  14. ^ "Luke Jephcott is a Red". www.swindontownfc.co.uk. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  15. ^ "Retained List". www.pafc.co.uk. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Luke Jephcott Signs for Saints!". St Johnstone Football Club. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  17. ^ Jephcott joins Newport
  18. ^ Jephcott Newport debut
  19. ^ "Argyle striker Luke Jephcott makes first start for Wales under-21s". 13 November 2020.
  20. ^ "Games played by Luke Jephcott in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  21. ^ "Games played by Luke Jephcott in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  22. ^ a b c d "Games played by Luke Jephcott in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  23. ^ "Luke Jephcott Profile | Aylesbury United FC". www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  24. ^ "Sky Bet League Two: Manager and Player of the Month January winners". www.efl.com. English Football League. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.