NELSON Jardim has extra time to mull over his selection problems for Newport County AFC's trip to Bradford City courtesy of Sky Sports.
The Exiles' trip to Valley Parade has been pushed back from Saturday to be shown live on Monday Night Football.
At the start of this week it was the Premier League clash between Bournemouth and Southampton but League Two takes its place in the schedule.
It's Yorkshire week for County with Bradford followed by a weekend trip to Harrogate and they travel in high spirits thanks to a double in Newport against Crewe and Salford.
The quick turnaround meant that Nelson Jardim tinkered with his XI and he was rewarded with strong performances by midfielder Noah Mawene and giant striker Kyle Hudlin.
He is unable to stick with the starting line-up because of the loss of Matt Baker, who is on Wales Under-21s duty.
Does he bring in Ciaran Brennan on his return to Yorkshire? Does he start with James Clarke if the influential central defender comes through training after injury? Does he include both to add some extra solidity on the road?
County have lined up in a 4-2-3-1 recently and on Tuesday it was Mawene, included ahead of Cameron Antwi, that played next to deep midfielder Bryn Morris.
There must be a slight temptation if Clarke is fit to include Brennan as a sitting midfielder, where he played in pre-season, to help deal with Andy Cook.
The burly striker has already got six goals in 12 games so far this season and has consistently been a menace for the Exiles.
Last season he scored a hat-trick at Rodney Parade and then another goal on the last day of the campaign at Valley Parade. Cook struck in Newport in 2023 and Cardiff City Stadium in 2021.
Possible County XI: Townsend, C Evans, Brennan, Jameson, Glennon, Morris, Wildig (captain), Mawene, K Evans, Kamwa, Hudlin.
THE OPPOSITION
Bradford have made an indifferent start to the season after being hindered by defensive injuries.
Their last league win was against Carlisle on September 7 with a 2-1 loss at Walsall, 0-0 home meeting with Wimbledon, 2-1 defeat at bogey team Harrogate and a midweek 1-1 draw at Morecambe (and former boss Derek Adams).
It’s expected that manager Graham Alexander will be able to return to his favoured back three thanks to Aden Baldwin and Neill Byrne being back in training.
Bradford brought 37-year-old Paul Huntington, who left Carlisle in the summer after their relegation from League One, in on a short-term deal to boost their options at the back.
The Bantams boast former County loanee Calum Kavanagh up front; he headed in the opener in last season’s game between the sides in Yorkshire but is yet to score in the current campaign.
COUNTY STATS
Leading scorer: Aaron Wildig (4).
Most assists: Antony Glennon (3).
League position: Ninth (15pts).
Form guide: WLLLWW.
BRADFORD STATS
Leading scorer: Andy Cook (4).
Most assists: Tyreik Wright (3).
League position: 13th (12pts).
Form guide: LWLDLD
MATCH ODDS
Bradford 4/9, draw 16/5, County 19/4.
LAST TIME
Bradford condemned County to an eighth straight defeat in the final game of last season, although the Bantams fell agonisingly short of the play-offs despite the 4-1 success.
They had won earlier in the season by the same scoreline when Mark Hughes was boss, with Cook scoring a hat-trick.
League Two fixtures
Fleetwood v Bromley, Grimsby v Doncaster (both 12.30pm), Accrington v Morecambe, Barrow v Cheltenham, Chesterfield v Walsall, Colchester v Carlisle, Crewe v Gillingham, MK Dons v Tranmere, Notts County v Port Vale, Salford v AFC Wimbledon, Swindon v Harrogate (Monday: Bradford v County, 8pm).
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