Newport County hit by illness before Peterborough FA Cup tie

County welcome League One Posh to Rodney Parade on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) in the first round of the famous competition.

Another cup run would boost the coffers but boss Nelson Jardim has selection headaches in the bid to claim the scalp of another side from a higher league.

Captain Aaron Wildig is struggling with a back issue and his fellow experienced midfielder Bryn Morris suffered a knock in the League Two win at Gillingham and played through the pain in last week’s goalless draw with Fleetwood.

They are doubts while a number of players have been laid low after illness in the camp and could miss out.

“Bryn has been trying to recover since Gillingham,” said head coach Jardim. “He did well last game but he’s someone that we have been trying to protect.

“Wildig as well, his back is sore, and they will be assessed. They are two players who have played every game, especially Wildig since pre-season apart from when he had a concussion.

“We will have to manage him and make a decision, while there is also a bug going around the camp. A couple of players are struggling with that, so we will have to see how they go.”

BLOW: Shane McLoughlin was helped off after being injured in County's loss to Port Vale (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

County have, however, been lifted by the return of McLoughlin to be an option on either flank or in midfield.

The Irishman, one of the stars of last season, has been out since suffering a knee injury in the opening stages of the 4-1 defeat to Port Vale on September 7.

“He is available for selection. He has worked with us this week and everything looks good,” said Jardim.

“He is one of the senior players, a real presence and good character, and a good player as well. It will be like a new signing, he is ready and wants to go.”

The other answers from Jardim’s press conference…

OPPORTUNITIES IF THERE ARE CHANGES…

NJ: Everybody is ready and waiting for their chance. It's a massive game for the city, the fans, the club, for me with my first game in the FA Cup.

We are looking forward to it and will give our best, as we always do. I am sure the fans will be with us because they have been great and our 12th man.

PACKED: Newport County fans at the FA Cup clash with Manchester United (Image: Nick Potts)

WHAT DOES THE FA CUP MEAN?

NJ: It means a lot, with such history. I grew up watching games on TV and we always had Portuguese players in the Premier League, even when I was young with Paulo Futre one of the biggest names of my time.

It's massive. I have experienced it before with other clubs - Swansea, Leicester, Birmingham - but as a head coach it's a different story.

You can't compare other cups, this is the one that everyone dreams to be in. It is a big day for me and it's important for the club, we will give everything that we have got.

You need a bit of luck with the draws but the only thing you can do is be focused and ready with good energy, then hopefully you can get the result you want.

ON PETERBOROUGH...

NJ: They are a young and energetic squad. I like watching them play and the front four are very good players. They are showing that young players can do well.

THE PROSPECT OF PENALTIES...

NJ: We have practiced... Bryn practiced one last week! [Morris missed from the spot against Fleetwood].

He is good and it just happens, you see Cristiano Ronaldo missing penalties and sometimes you don't give enough credit to the goalkeepers.

It was a great save and the ball just rolled along the line. It was one of those moments and we have no issues, it's just part of the game.

We will be practicing again on Friday and you just have to control what you can, making sure the boys are exposed to some of the things that can happen.

We will look after that, we don't know who will be on the pitch but we will have a list ready.

You have to be brave, it's one thing to practice in training sessions and another to do it in a game in such an important competition.

Sometimes it's more to do with emotion and how cool you can be in that moment rather than being very good at the training ground.

UPDATE ON INJURED STRIKER HAMZAD KARGBO…

NJ: He is doing well and doing some practice with us at the beginning of sessions with passing drills.

He is doing well, he has had a scan and it looks good, so it's just about keeping working.

I would say that in three or four weeks he will be among the players who can be selected.

(Kargbo suffered a dislocated shoulder on debut at Cheltenham on opening weekend in August)