NEWPORT County AFC boss Nelson Jardim wants more from his players in December before he decides if he wants more new blood in January.

The Exiles take on promotion hopefuls AFC Wimbledon in League Two on Tuesday evening (kick-off 7.45pm) as they start a busy month that features six fixtures.

Jardim signed up to work with a new-look squad when he arrived at Rodney Parade to replace Graham Coughlan.

The Exiles brought in 17 new signings in a busy summer recruitment drive that was spearheaded by owner Huw Jenkins.

The chairman has previously stated that he doesn’t expect a busy January – and last year the club only added striker Luke Jephcott – but that will be shaped by the injury list.

County are already short of experience in midfield after captain Aaron Wildig’s season-ending knee injury while they are also waiting to learn the extent of Newcastle loanee Jamie Miley’s back problem.

Left-back would also appear to be an area for concern with versatile right-back Shane McLoughlin currently operating on that flank, although Anthony Glennon is now available after injury.

Jardim and his coaching staff are working with plenty of EFL novices and helping them to develop is his priority before he goes to Jenkins with a January wishlist.

BOSS: Newport County head coach Nelson JardimBOSS: Newport County head coach Nelson Jardim (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

“Managers just want more, but I want more from the ones I've got at the moment and they know that,” said the head coach, who works with Jenkins and head of football operations Chris Finn on recruitment.

“You always try to improve what you have got but obviously you're always assessing what's happening, what type of injuries you've got and we've just had a bad one for Wildig. That makes you think in different areas of the pitch.

“We're also starting to assess what we've got at the moment but we still feel it's a little bit early.

“Towards the middle of December, we've got more games and we'll have a better idea of what we need. We have eight games until January 5.

“We are planning, we've got a clear idea of what the possibilities are. There's a lot of work in the background that we have to do and keep assessing, sometimes it's a day-by-day thing.”

Jenkins will not allow County to have a bloated squad and if they do look to strengthen then exits are likely, with defender Josh Seberry and forwards Kiban Rai and Jephcott among those currently on the fringes.