North West Wales

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Injuries are beginning to take a toll on League Two side Newport County, with Tanatswa Nyakuhwa and Matty Jacob the latest names added to a growing casualty list.

Striker Christian Doidge and midfielder Aaron Lewis both picked up groin injuries ahead of Newport's 1-1 draw with York City, while Harri Pugh and Keenan Patten also remain sidelined.

With a big squad, manager Hayden Mullins feels for now Newport have the squad depth to survive the crisis but admits Jacob's absence will be keenly felt.

The Hull City loanee, who arrived on deadline day, has started every League Two game since his arrival before being forced off with a hamstring strain against York.

Alongside helping shore up Newport's defence, he has also posed a threat going forward and contributed two assists in seven appearances.

"Matty's done really well," said Mullins.

"He's a player who has shown he wants to come and play games. He recognised he needed to play, came down here and backed himself.

"He's got a couple of assists and looked really good in the games. He will definitely be a miss, but it opens the door for someone else."

That player could well be Tom Davies, who is fit again after recovering from an injury that has kept him out of the team since Newport's 5-3 derby defeat to Bristol Rovers.

But both Joe Thomas and Alfie Merritt also remain options for Mullins, both of whom started in south Yorkshire earlier this week.

"Tom [Davies] is fit now, Alfie Merritt's around and JT [Joe Thomas] can fill that position," Mullins added.

"We've got a number of players that can help while he's not here [for three or four weeks], but Matty's done really well while he's been in the team."

There was, however, some positive news on the injury front, with James Crole and Moses Walker-Alexander both back in training.

Doidge and Lewis have also returned to the grass but are still several weeks away from contention, while Nyakuhwa is awaiting a scan to determine the extent of his injury.

"We're getting there, but we're taking a bit of a knock at the moment," said Mullins.

"We're stretched and that's why when the Shaq [Gwengwe] one came through it was a little bit more of a blow."

With Newport now facing a testing spell, Mullins has challenged those on the fringes of the squad to take their opportunities.

"I've got no worries about putting players in. If a space opens up, they'll get the opportunity because they've shown they're ready to go.

"It's hard to leave people out because the lads who've got the shirt have done really well, but it's pleasing to see others come in and show us they're ready.

"We're getting lads who need to step up, stepping up at the moment and that's really helping us."

Newport travel across the River Severn to face Cheltenham Town on Saturday 24 October where they will be hoping for their first league away win.

Though a fourth consecutive draw on the road would still extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches in all competitions.