Newport County Play Two Home Matches In Four Days

Newport County manager Michael Flynn looks set to field an unchanged starting line-up for the League Two clash with Wycombe Wanderers at Rodney Parade today (3pm).

Newport are seventh in the table, two points behind fourth-placed Wanderers.

Flynn and his team have two home fixtures in four days, entertaining Wycombe and then Cheltenham Town on Tuesday (7.45pm).

County face a difficult test against Wanderers and their powerful centre-forward Adebayo Akinfenwa.

Former Swansea City striker Akinfenwa, 35, scored 18 goals for Wycombe last season.

“You’ve just got to use your common sense and don’t get into a wrestle with him because there’s only going to be one winner,” said Flynn.

“But we’ll be trying to stop the sources to him.

“We don’t want Adebayo having ammunition minute after minute or ball after ball that he can get on the end of.

“We all know the threat that Akinfenwa is, but they’ve got other good players as well so we need to be on point on Saturday or we’ll struggle to get anything.’

County AFC striker Frank Nouble has been named the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month for August.

It was the most prolific month of the 25-year-old’s career to date with five goals and an assist in four games, including a hat-trick against Chesterfield.

Nouble said: “I’m delighted and very grateful for the award.

“It’s made me proud, but also hungry to make sure this season is a success both for me and the club.

“We want to bring back the good times for the supporters too.”

County boss Michael Flynn, who missed out on the manager of the month accolade to Exeter City’s Paul Tisdale, added: “I’m made up for Frank. He’s got undoubted ability and I’m pleased he’s proving that.

“There’s a lot of football left to play and I’ve challenged him for this not to be the only award he wins this season.”

Former Cardiff City winger Gareth Ainsworth is Wycombe’s manager, while Welshman Joe Jacobson looks certain to be in their starting line-up.

Striker Joe Quigley is back in the squad after international duty, while Shawn McCoulsky, Lamar Reynolds and Marlon Jackson are all ruled out by injuries.

“It’s probably going to be too early for Shawn,” said Flynn. “Shawn’s had a hip flexor injury. It’s just a minor niggle so it’s nothing to be concerned about.

“Lamar has a problem at the top of his thigh.

“We’ll see how he is but there’s no point risking him now he’s that close, we’ve got another game on Tuesday and it may be that he is ready for that game instead.

“Marlon is on the mend from a hamstring strain.”

Wycombe give Sam Saunders, Scott Kashket and Nathan Tyson fitness tests ahead of the trip.

New signing Ebere Eze could make his debut for the Choirboys.

Newport County, probable: Day, O’Brien, Demetriou, White, Willmott, Labadie, Dolan, Rigg, Butler, Nouble, Amond. Subs: Bittner, Pipe, Bennett, Owen-Evans, Tozer, Cole, Quigley, Jahraldo-Martin.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *