NEWPORT County AFC will be without influential right-back Shane McLoughlin for six weeks because of a knee injury.

The defender went down in the second minute of the 4-1 defeat to Port Vale at Rodney Parade last weekend and was helped from the field after receiving treatment on his left leg.

The 27-year-old Irishman was sent for scans and the diagnosis that he won’t need an operation but he will be out until the end of October.

County have nine League Two fixtures beefore the end of October - Swindon on Saturday, Barrow, Crewe, Salford, Bradford, Harrogate, Chesterfield, Gillingham and Fleetwood.

“We expect him to be out for six weeks but we always have to find the positives and it was nothing serious that would need surgery,” said head coach Nelson Jardim.

“He overstretched and the structures around the knee were overloaded but luckily there is nothing broken.”

TREATMENT: Shane McLoughlin suffered a knee injury in County's loss to Port ValeTREATMENT: Shane McLoughlin suffered a knee injury in County's loss to Port Vale (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

McLoughlin has been a key figure for the Exiles since signing in the summer of 2023 and his absence due to a calf problem played a big part in last season going off the rails in the run-in.

He has started every game this season and was captain against Cheltenham in the EFL Trophy but will now face a spell on the sidelines.

The loss of McLoughlin adds to County’s defensive problems with James Clarke expected to be out for another fortnight while his fellow centre-backs Ciaran Brennan (three games) and Kyle Jameson (one game) are suspended after being sent off against Vale.

The Exiles are also without novice right-back Joe Thomas, a summer signing from Swansea’s academy, because of an ankle injury.

That leaves Cameron Evans as the prime option to start down that flank against Swindon on Saturday although central defender Josh Seberry, who has been out in the cold at the start of the season, also filled in as a full-back last year.

Matt Baker is back from Wales Under-21s duty to slot into defence while midfielder Bryn Morris could also potentially move back, with teenager Nelson Sanca a starting candidate after coming on against the Valiants on the right of the central trio.

“The sending offs don’t help but I feel that we have options and a group of players willing to play other positions. We will find a solution,” said Jardim.