HARRY Worley admits it will take time for him to get used to being one of the ‘old heads’ in the Newport County AFC defence aged just 25.

With Byron Anthony missing due to a kidney infection, Worley was the senior man in the back three once Ismail Yakubu was forced off with a recurrence of his thigh injury against Exeter City on Sunday.

He had to take charge and organise Andrew Hughes and substitute Aaron Holloway, both aged 21, as the Exiles recovered from Worley’s unfortunate own goal to earn a point through Lee Minshull’s scrambled equaliser.

“That’s the nature of being defender; you give goals away or penalties or score own goals sometimes,” said Worley on heading into his own net.

“I know I could have done better with it but I played a part in the goal at the other end and I was just happy we scored so quickly after making a mistake.

“Aaron came on and I thought he did well, considering his age and the fact that he’s not really a centre-back,” he added.

“He can obviously do a job there and hopefully he can continue to do it if needed.

“I tried to help him through it as the senior one of the three, even though I’m only 25, but he didn’t really look out of place and I didn’t have to say too much to him.

“Most of my career I’ve been a youngster in the sides I’ve played in but I’m at that stage where I’m going to be the old head a lot of the time so I have to get used to that.”

Exiles boss Justin Edinburgh again has selection problems in defence ahead of tonight’s home clash with Dagenham & Redbridge.

Yakubu is definitely out and Andy Sandell (hamstring) is still missing but Tom Naylor does return from his one-game ban and he’s hopeful that Anthony could be available again.

But the manager was also impressed with a mature display from Holloway, who was brought in as a striker having not played in defence for several years.

“The boy did well because we signed him solely as a striker but he can play there and he did a good job for us on Sunday,” said Edinburgh.

“It just shows you the problems we’ve had. We’re up against it with injuries in a defensive area but credit to the players who have stepped in.”