County make a quick return to cup action in knockout Trophy tie
THERE is no let up in the cup action for Michael Flynn’s Newport County side as they swap the FA Cup for the first knock-out round of the CheckaTrade Trophy tonight.
While all the talk last night was about who they will meet in the third round of the FA Cup if they can get past Wrexham in next week’s second round replay, the big question tonight will be who will be fit to face their fellow League Two rivals.
“I doubt if any of our injured players will be able to return at Cheltenham. It’s a bit frustrating, but we’ll see – I might have to play a couple of the youngsters,” admitted Flynn after Saturday night’s 0-0 draw at The Racecourse against National League side Wrexham.
Tyler Forbes, Scott Bennett, Matty Dolan, Robbie Willmott and Keanu Marsh-Brown all missed the allWelsh cup clash and none of them are expected to return tonight.
Flynn and his players will at least know what to expect when they arrive at Whaddon Road having played there two weeks ago. They were beaten 2-1.
But while County will be missing a few, there might be a welcome return to action for former skipper Joss Labadie after a lengthy period on the sidelines.
He hasn’t played since March, but is expected to get some time off the bench after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament knee injury.
County finished behind Chelsea U21 in Southern Group C to reach the knock-out rounds and the winner of tonight’s game will go into the last 16.