Injury-hit Newport County could turn to academy in hectic period

The Exiles management will have been almost entirely focused on tomorrow afternoon’s League Two clash with Harrogate.

It’s a chance to build on Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Colchester and tot up another three points towards the mid-40s target that should retain Football League status.

But County are on the hamster wheel at the moment with eight games in October, all at a time when the squad is stretched by injury.

On Tuesday there is a trip to League One strugglers Cheltenham Town and £8,000 prize money for wins in the competition mean it’s not a fixture to just be shrugged off.

However, Coughlan’s prime objective for the season is to avoid a relegation scrap and he will rotate in the west country while still hunting a win.

PATIENT: Olly Thomas has been backing up County strikers Omar Bogle and Will Evans (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

Opportunity knocks for some squad players and there could well be starts for goalkeeper Jonny Maxted, right-back Lewis Payne, left-back Matty Bondswell, defender Josh Seberry, midfielder Nathan Wood and forwards Kiban Rai and Olly Thomas.

But Coughlan and assistant Joe Dunne also have to consider the competition rules, which state that they must select a ‘full available strength’ side with four ‘qualifying’ outfield players.

To qualify they must have either started against Harrogate or be given a start at Swindon next Saturday; they must be in the top ten of starters; have made 40 or more starts in first team fixtures or be on loan from a club with a category one academy (Newcastle’s Bondswell and Southampton’s Payne qualify, Bristol City’s Thomas doesn’t).

In truth, County’s injury problems mean that hitting the four players mark won’t be an issue as they aren’t blessed with options.

They will hope to come through the Harrogate game unscathed and then decide which of their regulars needs a rest.

Some will have to go again through necessity – not all of Scot Bennett, Bryn Morris, Aaron Wildig and James Waite will be able to put their feet up.

Perhaps the load will be shared with some starting in Cheltenham, others against West Ham Under-21s later in the month.

But County will also consider using the academy ahead of time, something that none of James Rowberry, Darren Kelly or Coughlan did in last season’s tournament.

TALENT: Moses Alexander-Walker in action for County in pre-season (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

Perhaps we will get a first glimpse of the next generation in competitive action after defender/midfielder Harrison Page (who was an unused substitute at Gillingham last season), midfielder Corey Evans and forward Moses Alexander-Walker featured in pre-season (along with now injured midfielder Riley Lonergan).

Coughlan and Dunne have backgrounds in age-grade football and are well placed to judge youngsters with the potential to become EFL players when working with academy boss Luke Hussey and his staff.

“If you are fit enough, you are good enough. I have a long proven track record of giving young lads opportunities but you have to be good enough and earn it,” said the manager.

“They will need that little bit of quality to break in. I am not going to just hand chances to young lads, I have done that one or twice in my career and it has backfired.

“The academy players and staff have to realise there are opportunities at this club and at this moment in time it’s a case of ‘step up to the plate and help us’ in our hour of need.

“We need all the help we can get but they have to earn it and be good enough to warrant a place on the bench.”

At 2pm tomorrow we will see if any new faces are getting a taste of the bench against Harrogate or whether they will have to wait until Cheltenham.