NEWPORT County AFC have been handed a double fitness boost just four days ahead of the League Two opener against Accrington Stanley.

Versatile forward Robbie Willmott has been passed fit to resume training today and should be available to play some part on Saturday.

And star striker Aaron O’Connor could also be back much sooner than expected.

It was originally feared that Willmott, who suffered a shoulder injury in last week’s friendly against a Reading XI, would be out for between two and four weeks.

That would have ruled him out of the Exiles’ historic clash with Accrington and next Tuesday’s trip to Championship club Bright-on & Hove Albion in the Capital One Cup.

But, having seen a specialist yesterday, Willmott will be back in training today and will be in contention to play on Saturday. A message on the player’s Twitter account on Sunday said: “Woke up no pain in the shoulder.”

And yesterday he added: “Finally some good news! Specialist says I be training tomorrow.”

Manager Justin Edin-burgh has been impressed with the former Luton Town and Cambridge United man in pre-season.

Willmott has shone at right wing-back and in his preferred role behind the strikers and Edinburgh is hopeful that he will be available this weekend.

“Robbie is improving rapidly and we’re optimistic that he will be fit for Saturday,” said the Exiles boss.

And Edinburgh also revealed that last season’s top scorer O’Connor, who is sidelined with a groin injury, could be back much sooner than expected.

“Aaron is doing better than we thought,” he said.

“We are hopeful that we will get good news when he sees the specialist on Wednesday.

“I can’t put a time limit on it but I don’t see it being the eight weeks that we thought it might be initially.”

Edinburgh will decide on the future of triallist Ryan Doble this week and he is still waiting on confirmation of the signing of right-back Ryan Jackson.

He added: “We’ve completed the paperwork on Ryan Jackson but we’re just waiting on a letter from Macclesfield to clarify that there is no compensation due for him.

“I don’t foresee there being any problems.”