Newport County boss frustrated in bid to replace Danny McNamara

McNamara returned to parent club Millwall earlier this week to have an operation on a groin injury, while summer signing Dan Leadbitter is still recovering from knee surgery.

Robbie Willmott is also sidelined with a calf problem and academy graduate Dom Jefferies, who played at right-back in the midweek Leasing.com Trophy win over MK Dons, is ruled out with a tooth abscess.

Flynn has spent the past few days trying to bring in a new right-sided defender but he was unable to conclude a deal in time for tomorrow’s match at Glanford Park.

“Dom Jefferies probably would have started,” said the Exiles boss.

“I thought he did OK on Tuesday. He looked strong and competitive.

“He can get better with the ball, but he’s done well and fitted in well.

“League games are a different kettle of fish, but he’s going in the right direction.

“Leds (Leadbitter, below) will be three weeks and Robbie will be fit next week,” added Flynn, who also gave an update on striker Ade Azeez’s recovery from a torn Achilles tendon.

“Every time I ask the physios about Ade it’s three weeks! It was three weeks three weeks ago and it’s three weeks again today.”

Flynn has so far signed forward Billy Waters on loan from Northampton Town and defensive midfielder Dale Gorman on loan from Leyton Orient and he’s still on the hunt for more.

“I’m on the phone non-stop with 100 different agents, managers and players, it’s fun and games,” he said.

“I’ve got two through the door and it definitely would have been three, but for the fact that he got injured.

“It was somebody I was really excited about but he had a knock on his ankle, went for a scan and he’s out for a long time.

“That was gutting. It would have been a good one.

“Other ones [have also fallen through]. You agree a deal with a team but he can’t go out on loan until he signs a new deal.

“I was close to signing somebody else but he didn’t want to move until the end of the season.

“There are loads of different obstacles you come up against.

“And I’m having to look at permanent transfers instead of loans because you don’t want too many loans.

“You can only have five in the matchday squad and I would go to six.”

Flynn has been linked with a move for Dayle Grubb of Forest Green Rovers this week and he admits that he is considering the attacking midfielder

“He’s on the list and we’ll have a look,” he said.

“We’ve got targets in each position. It’s about affordability, whether they want to come here and if they’re the right character for the football club.

“If they’re not, they won’t be coming. I don’t care how good they are, I can’t be wasting time on people I’ve got no energy on.

“I wish it was as simple as going out and signing a 20-goal-a-season man,” added Flynn.

“You tell me someone who’s scored 20 goals who is available and who we can afford.

“A lot of players in non-league are on decent wages to start with, and you’re going to have to buy them.

“It’s not easy. January is a tough one. You almost need somebody to have a big argument with their manager and live close to the area. Then you might have a chance!”

Read more: Newport County winger Corey Whitely joins Bromley on loan