MARLON WOE IS NEWPORT SETBACK

NEWPORT caretakermanager Michael Flynn admits the absence of striker Marlon Jackson is a real blow but is impressed by his team’s response in the face of adversity in recent weeks.

Jackson, 26, is ruled out for at least two weeks with a hamstring injury picked up playing for the reserves last week

Flynn says it could not have come at a worse time as the forward seeks a first goal since August.

He said: “It’s frustrating because he was just getting to a level where we thought he could be really effective.

“He’s really been putting the effort in for a long time now in training so I’m gutted for him.”

According to Flynn, his team – who had won three of their last six games heading into the weekend – are not ready to bow out of League Two and have the drive to make their way out of the drop zone.

“It would have been easy for us to go out with a whimper but the boys have been superb,” he added.

“OK, we may fall short at times but their effort has been fantastic.”