NEWPORT vice-captain Matthew Veater has been given the all-clear to resume playing on April 19, meaning his hopes of finishing the season with a Konica-Minolta Cup final appearance at the Millennium Stadium have been revived.

Veater was thought to be out for the season when injured against Bridgend recently - Newport subsequently citing Bridgend lock Mike Powell for allegedly throwing a punch which caused the damage.

But though he had his nose broken and has now had it confirmed by a CT scan that he also suffered a fracture on the rim of the cheekbone and eye socket, Veater will be back in time for the Principality Premier Division home game with Ebbw Vale on April 22.

"A scan has revealed a small fracture but I can carry on training without taking any contact until March 29 and it's three weeks from there until I can play again," he said.

"I was originally told in casualty I faced three months without contact which meant I would be out for the season, so in terms of that this is good news.

"I'll be available for the cup semi-final if I make the squad and provided we beat Maesteg in the quarter-final, but hopefully the boys can do that. A cup final appearance would be a great finish to the season."

Veater is currently in negotiations with Newport regarding a new contract and said, "hopefully we can sort things out in the next two or three weeks.

"I want to stay if we can agree terms as I enjoy it at Newport and still retain ambitions to play for the regional team."

Newport, meanwhile, say they have had an excellent response to their advertisement for a new club coach to succeed David Rees, who will be full time Newport Gwent Dragons skills coach and assistant backs coach next season.

"The standard of applicants is excellent, we will speak to everybody concerned and we are happy that whoever we appoint will do a first class job for Newport," said club director Will Godfrey.