NEWPORT County WILL enter the transfer market for a new midfielder in light of the injury to Max Porter.

As exclusively revealed in yesterday’s Argus, Porter has suffered a reoccurrence of his groin injury and will be sidelined for weeks at least, according to his manager Justin Edinburgh.

The Exiles boss had been hopeful that Porter would be back in a matter of days, but confirmed the issue is worse than first thought.

And despite insisting last week his budget had reached capacity, Edinburgh – who has seen Newport attract two bumper home crowds this term and go on a cup run – can now afford to sign a reinforcement for his midfield.

“Unfortunately the news on Max isn’t good, he’s seen the surgeon and it isn’t particularly good news and he’ll be out for a while now,” he said.

“He’s got to have the same blood injections Aaron O’Connor has been having and he’ll be a few weeks out at least.

“It’s really disappointing for him and for us as a team as we will really miss him. He’s a strong lad though and a dedicated professional, once we get it right he’ll come back stronger than ever. You learn things about yourself when you’re out injured.”

Edinburgh won’t delay on trying to sign a new man.

“We are going to have to bring another reinforcement into our midfield now, we don’t have an option, we were light in that area anyway,” he said.

“We won’t fill our subs bench again on Saturday and we will look to get someone in, if we can do it before Saturday great, but we are already trying to get the wheels in motion.”

Edinburgh is at least boosted by the return of hamstring victims Tony James and Mike Flynn, both players fit to return to the first team squad.

Edinburgh is also relishing a game just a few miles from his home in Essex.

“It’ll be a family affair for me on Saturday with plenty of support, but it’s a tough place to go with a throwback stadium, I expect a tough game there,” he said.

“Dagenham have been to League One and shown what’s achievable, this is a bit like a non-league game in the Football League. In a lot of ways I feel like this will be our hardest game.

“They’ve had good form, it’ll be a very difficult game, but we go in with good heart after the manner of the performance against Bristol Rovers. Our back six were magnificent.”