NEWPORT County manager Dean Holdsworth has called on his players to demonstrate their great team spirit once again tomorrow.

The Exiles host high-flying Hayes & Yeading at Spytty Park (kick-off 3pm) with several members of the squad still suffering from a flu bug that just won’t go away.

And Holdsworth insists they will need the same battling display which saw them claim a point at Basingstoke last Saturday.

With both Kevin Cooper and Martyn Giles sent off at the Camrose Ground, nine-man County earned a creditable 0-0 draw but Hayes will provide a much sterner test tomorrow.

“It’s been a difficult week because a lot of my players are suffering with illness,” said Holdsworth.

“It’s been a case of wrapping them in cotton wool and taking care of them.

“They haven’t been able to train and I just hope some will be able to play because it will be all hands on deck.”

Striker Craig Hughes, who missed the Basingstoke game, is among those doubtful through illness and Adie Harris and Giles are also struggling to be fit.

“It’s been hanging around for a long time,” added Holdsworth. “Playing in the pouring rain for 95 minutes last week didn’t help either, but they showed the fantastic team spirit in the dressing room and we’ll need that again tomorrow. We won’t be at full strength but we’ll give it all we’ve got and that’s all I can ask.”

County are now three games unbeaten in the league with the point at Basingstoke preceded by a 1-1 draw at Weston-super-Mare and a 0-0 stalemate at home to Welling two weeks ago, and Holdsworth wants the County faithful to see a good performance at Spytty tomorrow.

“It’s a different sort of pressure at home,” he explained. “I want the players to enjoy that pressure and thrive on it rather than be affected by it.

“They can’t be afraid to make a mistake and hopefully everyone will get behind the team.”

Suspensions for Cooper and Giles will not kick-in until next week and both will be available to play if fit, but young left-back Callum Hart is not in contention after failing to impress on trial against Bath City in the Setanta Shield last week.

* Newport County have been drawn to play Andover away in the FA Trophy on Saturday, November 22.