O’Brien back in boost for County

NEWPORT County have defender Mark O’Brien and midfielder Mitch Rose back from suspension for Crawley’s Sky Bet League Two visit today (3pm).

But striker Marlon Jackson is a doubt after picking up an injury in a reserves game in midweek.

Ben Tozer, Lenell John-Lewis and Jamie Turley are still ruled out and player-manager Michael Flynn is not considering himself.

Midfielder Mark Randall is pushing for a starting spot after impressing as a substitute at Portsmouth last weekend.

Flynn is delighted to have O’Brien available again and will look to include him for the clash with 17th-placed Crawley today.

County remain in 23rd, six points adrift of safety with nine games left, and the Exiles’ chief sees O’Brien’s return as key to a victory this weekend.

“It’s big for us, I think he’s an outstanding defender,” he said.

“I know his qualities and I know what he needs to work on.

““He’s a real solid defender and I think he has proven that in the short time he has beren here,” added Flynn of O’Brien, pictured above, who missed last week’s 2-1 defeat against Portsmouth.

But it is likely that Rose will just be included on the bench, having missing five games after admitting a charge of improper and/or violent conduct for knocking a red card out of the referee’s hand following his dismissal against Cambridge last month.

“I don’t think he is ready to come straight back in,” said Flynn. “Mitch is a lovely lad and he’s been brilliant since he came here. I thinbk he may need another reserve game or a couple more training sessions before he can start.”

Crawley have no fresh injury concerns, with Mark Connolly, who has missed the last two matches, and Jordan Roberts both remain sidelined with hamstring injuries.

Crawley manager Dermot Drummy could field the same starting XI which ran out 3-0 winners against Leyton Orient last weekend, their first win in seven matches.