NEWPORT County AFC boss Nelson Jardim has left the door open for defender Josh Seberry to force his way back into the first team.

The 20-year-old Irishman has been on the fringes for the Exiles despite a lack of defensive options.

Centre-back James Clarke and full-back Shane McLoughlin are injured while Ciaran Brennan is suspended for Saturday’s trip to Barrow and the home fixture with Crewe seven days later.

Jardim was also without Kyle Jameson for last weekend’s 4-0 hammering at Swindon but opted to start with midfielder Bryn Morris in a central trio with Matt Baker and Cameron Evans, with Cardiff loanee Kieron Evans deployed initially out of position as a right wing-back.

Seberry remains out in the cold and was once again left out of the squad for Tuesday’s EFL Trophy win against West Ham Under-21s.

The physical defender was impressive at the start of last season as a right-back and centre-back after earning a deal thanks to a successful summer trial.

Seberry, who was with the academy at Shelbourne in the League of Ireland, made 12 appearances before suffering a broken leg at Notts County at the end of October.

He made his return for the Exiles in pre-season but, with the club attempting to develop a new passing style, is yet to make an outing in 2023/24 after being an unused substitute at Swindon and against Leyton Orient in the Carabao Cup.

WAITING: Josh Seberry warming up for Newport County at Leyton OrientWAITING: Josh Seberry warming up for Newport County at Leyton Orient (Image: Juan Gasparini/Huw Evans Agency)

“It has been between him and Nelson Sanca,” said head coach Jardim, who has used the teenager twice this season and had him on the bench four times.

“Josh came through a tough period of his life with the broken leg. It took him time to recover and he is coming up in a nice manner, up to the speed that he probably was when he arrived.

“We just felt that Sanca was in a better position than Seberry but Josh is working hard, he is a really committed and strong boy but just needs to be back at the point he was before the injury last season.

“Hopefully things will come together for him and he will have a chance, but at the moment he just needs to wait. He has been a really hard worker and is willing to improve every day, which is great.

“When you break your leg you have to rebuild not only your physicality but your confidence. He is in that process and hopefully he can help us.

“I just have to take every game as it comes, assess the squad and make sure we always have what we feel is best for the team.”