NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn has confirmed that Scot Bennett and Ben Tozer are nearing a return for the Exiles as they prepare to take on Coventry City tomorrow, writes Ryan Robinson.

Tozer has been missing for the Exiles since January’s defeat at Stevenage and has since undergone knee surgery.

The 27-year-old midfielder penned a new one-year-deal with the club in the summer and could be in line for a return in the coming weeks.

Flynn said: “Ben Tozer has upped his training and is looking quite good, whether he’s ready for Saturday is debatable, but he’s very close now.”

Bennett has been absent for County since coming-off at half-time in the Carabao Cup win at Southend United on August 8 with an ankle problem.

But Flynn says the defender may make a return in time for the trip to the Ricoh Arena.

“Hopefully, we’ll have Scot Bennett back,” he said.

“He’s overcome his ankle injury and he’s trained fully today so we’ll have to see how it reacts now and take it from there.

“He’s close, that’s for sure.”

Even if fit, Bennett may have a task in shifting Ben White from his starting spot.

The 19-year-old loanee from Brighton & Hove Albion has settled well to life in South Wales, with Flynn predicting a bright future for the defender.

“Ben is one of these footballers that can play anywhere across the back-line,” he added.

“He’s got a great future ahead of him and if keeps learning and listening then I have no doubt he will play in the Premier League one day.”

Another player that may be in line for a start is new recruit Reece Cole.

The Brentford loanee was an unused substitute at Crewe Alexandra last weekend, but may feature this time around at the Ricoh.

Flynn said: “The boys who have played have deserved their place. A couple were really unlucky to miss out after their performances at Southend, if I’m honest.

“Reece is like any other player, he’ll have to bide his time and earn his spot and if he does that then it’s his shirt to lose then.”

On the 1-1 draw at Crewe, Flynn confirmed a few players were carrying minor injuries during the game, although all of these have now recovered.

He added: “Crewe was tough because we had three or four players in that game carrying knocks.

“I want to make it clear that that’s not due to fitness issues, so they did really well to play 90 minutes with those knocks.

“Those are all recovered now. I don’t want to go into too much detail because they might get targeted but Frank Nouble was one who was struggling last weekend.

“He put in a big shift for us considering that he could hardly push off from his leg, it was just a dead leg but he did well to last the 90 minutes.”

Marlon Jackson still remains side-lined for the Exiles due to the hamstring problem he sustained in pre-season against Gloucester City, with Flynn confirming it will be at-least another week before he returns.

He continued: “Marlon is a lot closer but he’s not ready for this weekend.

“He’s had no reactions; he’s done some running this week, which is good, so hopefully it won’t be too long.”