NOT long after John Cornforth took over as Newport County manager he said that working with an inherited squad was like playing snooker with someone else's cue.

But that same cue has now been snapped in half as County's already threadbare squad diminished even further this week.

Midfielder Jon Coates was the latest departure after being paid off yesterday, as reported in final editions of last night's Argus. He follows winger Eddie Duah and striker Carl Wilson-Denis to the exit door this week as the club attempt to cut costs.

This leaves Cornforth with the tough task of leading what's left of his struggling squad to face Cambridge City in the Nationwide South today (kick-off 3pm).

For Corn-forth, though, it's a case of "getting on with it." "Whoever we take up there we know that we have a job to do," said Cornforth, who prefers not to get involved in financial matters.

"We got together during the week and know that we have got to start the way we finished in the last ten minutes against Weston last week (County came back from two goals down to salvage a draw).

"In the games we have started lately we have gone on to do well and we will be going out to get at Cambridge early."

The City ground must rank as one of County's most productive arenas in recent years with only two defeats in 17 visits, including eight victories, but Cornforth insists that tradition will be out of the window this afternoon.

"The club have got a cracking record at their place," he said, "but that won't matter a jot today.

"In the past Cambridge haven't had the best of sides and have sometimes struggled but they have some decent players this season and are doing well (City are ten points above County in sixth place).

"We'll be up against it but have to keep plugging away."

As well as the departed trio, County are without Swansea loan star Antonio Corbisiero, who has gone back to the Vetch Field, but Cornforth is hopeful that the impressive young star will return to Spytty Park.

"The loan spell is up, but he wouldn't have played today anyway because he is injured," he said.

"We are hopeful though that we can bring him back in a fortnight for another month or so. There is no point doing it now with our free week next Saturday.

"Antonio said that he is keen to come back and I will be talking to Kenny Jackett (Swansea manager)."

Squad: Delve, L Phillips, Morgan, G Jones, Davies, Thomas, D Jones, Bowen, Williams, Moralee, J Phillips, O'Sullivan, Evans, Cooper, Brimfield, Passmore, Blackburn.