BOSS Michael Flynn says Newport County will be able to cope with a “big fixture pile-up” between now and the end of the season, but only if they can avoid another build-up of injuries.
The postponement of Tuesday night’s Leasing.com Trophy quarter-final against Leicester City U21s has done nothing to ease County’s already congested fixture list over the coming months.
A new date for the Leicester tie is still to be confirmed, while the same goes for the League Two game at Cheltenham Town which was called off earlier this term due to international call-ups.
Freezing temperatures put paid to the Leicester match, and there would be a danger of more games, particularly at Rodney Parade, suffering the same fate if further icy blasts were to follow.
County, 11th in the table, are hoping to make a late surge for the play-offs for the second season running and could do without the added pressure of a fixture backlog.
Flynn currently has a refreshingly short injury list, with the four fresh faces brought into the club during the January transfer window meaning increased competition for places.
But he knows that a spate of injuries, like the one experienced at Rodney Parade before Christmas, would make things very difficult indeed.
“It’s going to be a big fixture pile-up, Saturdays and Tuesdays now until probably close to the end of the season,” said.
“As long as we’ve got a fully fit squad it will give us a chance and hopefully allow us to continue our momentum.”
Flynn had made six changes to his starting XI from last weekend’s defeat of Swindon Town for the postponed Trophy tie.
However, without any action, the likes of keeper Nick Townsend, defenders George Nurse and Kyle Howkins and midfielders Robbie Willmott, Matty Dolan and Jordan Green got no game time.
“We had six in from Saturday,” added Flynn. “I wanted to get some minutes into Jordan, Kyle and Matty Dolan.
“George was unlucky on Saturday, and I wanted Robbie to get some minutes.
“They were educated changes to get some minutes in their legs, but we’ll have to see what we do on Saturday.”
It is a trip to Leyton Orient next for the Exiles this Saturday, on what promises to be another poignant afternoon as two of the late Justin Edinburgh’s clubs go head-to-head in London.
For the visitors, the game is a chance to make it five unbeaten in the league and to close the nine-point gap on Colchester United, who now occupy the fourth and final play-off place.
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