JOSS Labadie faces another lengthy spell on the sidelines after Newport County boss Graham Westley revealed the extent of the midfielder’s latest injury.

The 26-year-old picked up a knee problem during last Wednesday’s FA Cup replay against Plymouth Argyle at Rodney Parade.

He was replaced by defender Abdoulaye Meite following Graham Carey’s extra-time winner from the penalty spot which gave the Pilgrims a 1-0 win.

Labadie’s name was missing from the teamsheet for the Boxing Day clash with Portsmouth, as County threw away a two-goal lead to slip to a fifth League Two loss on the trot.

When asked about the former Torquay and Notts County man’s injury after his side’s 3-2 home reverse to Pompey, Newport chief Westley admitted it wasn’t good news.

“Joss Labadie will be out for a while,” he said. “It’s not a minor knock, we’re talking weeks.”

Labadie’s latest setback comes after two hamstring strains kept him out of action for more than a dozen games earlier in the campaign.

The combative midfield enforcer, a big favourite of Westley’s, scored on his County debut back in August having joined the Exiles in the summer.

He played in eight of his side’s first nine matches before his hamstring problems first arose at Doncaster – he sat out the next eight fixtures on that occasion.

Labadie was an unused substitute in the FA Cup first round tie away to Alfreton, while he then earned a recall to the team when Wimbledon visited Newport in the EFL Trophy.

But more hamstring issues in the first half of that encounter resulted in five more games on the sidelines.

However, having come off the bench during the home loss to Stevenage and then started the abandoned Morecambe game, Labadie went into the Crawley clash hopeful his injury woes were firmly behind him.

Ahead of the 3-1 defeat by the Red Devils, Labadie said: “I missed a lot of football which wasn’t nice, but now I’m back fit I’ll try and contribute in a positive way.

“I’ve had injuries before and I’ll have injuries again. You can’t let it affect your mindset and you’ve got to carry on being positive.”