NEWPORT County AFC will consider fielding Bryn Morris as a makeshift central defender in Saturday’s League Two trip to Swindon Town.

The Exiles face a defensive headache for the game at the County Ground (kick-off 12.30pm) because of injury and suspension.

Central defender James Clarke has missed the last three games after sustaining a leg injury in training and is expected to be out until the end of the month.

Right wing-back Shane McLoughlin suffered a calf/knee injury in the opening minutes of last Saturday’s 4-1 loss to Port Vale, which led to teenager Nelson Sanca coming on and Cameron Evans moving out wide.

Ciaran Brennan will be banned for three games after seeing red against the Valiants for kicking Ben Garrity and his fellow central defender Kyle Jameson was dismissed for a second yellow after booting a ball into the away end.

He will be suspended for one game unless the FA also charge him with misconduct.

Head coach Nelson Jardim will be hoping that Matt Baker makes it through Wales Under-21s’ Tuesday fixture in Iceland unscathed because County are down to the bare bones.

LIFT: Former County centre-back Mark O'Brien tries to pick up teenage defender Nelson Sanca after the defeat to Port ValeLIFT: Former County centre-back Mark O'Brien tries to pick up teenage defender Nelson Sanca after the defeat to Port Vale (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

“We finished with Nelson Sanca, Bryn and Cameron Evans in a completely new defensive line,” said the boss, who at least has his regular left-back Anthony Glennon available.

“At this level when you change too many players defensively you know there is something that can go wrong.

“Looking forward, we will find solutions within the squad that we have got. We have got more than enough options for the next game to make sure we are organised and ready to compete to win.”

The situation could lead to a chance for Josh Seberry, who impressed at the start of last season as a right-back and centre-back before suffering a broken leg.

The physical young Irishman has featured in just one matchday squad this season, the Carabao Cup loss at Leyton Orient, and was even left out in the EFL Trophy.

However, the inexperience at the back means that serious consideration will be given to moving Morris back despite him featuring almost exclusively as a midfielder since heading to Newport from Grimsby in the summer of 2023.

“Bryn is a senior player who has shown he has character, team spirit and can play everywhere,” said Jardim. “At centre-back against Port Vale he did a very good job for us and he is one of the options.”

The ability to move Morris back would be helped by the return of midfielder Jamie Miley, who sat out the loss to Port Vale after limping off in the EFL Trophy defeat to Cheltenham.

The Newcastle loanee has been given the all-clear from scans and should be available for Swindon along with Preston’s Noah Mawene, who missed out at the weekend through illness.