CAPTAIN Andy Sandell could be dropped as Newport County AFC manager Justin Edinburgh looks to kick-start his side’s League Two campaign.

County kept up their 100 per cent start to the season on Tuesday night with a 1-0 defeat at Mansfield Town after the home loss to Wycombe Wanderers and 3-2 reverse at Morecambe on Saturday.

The Exiles were also dumped out of the Capital One Cup by Reading last week and Edinburgh insists nobody is safe from the axe.

And that includes captain Sandell, who was replaced by Ryan Jackson with 25 minutes remaining at Field Mill.

“Ryan played very well at Reading and he made a big statement when he came on, there’s no doubt about that,” said Edinburgh, who confirmed that there was no injury for Sandell.

“No, he’s not injured. He’s not been as good as he should be right now and when you’ve got people like Ryan waiting in the wings you have no worries about changing things.”

The defeat to the Stags came after Ismail Yakubu and Lenny Pidgeley were caught out by Chris Clements inside 90 seconds.

But Edinburgh believes the defeat was down to poor finishing rather than that defensive lapse.

“They were very fortunate with the goal but people are not going to want to hear that,” said Edinburgh.

“We created enough chances to get back into the game and for long periods I thought we were the better side.

“We got caught up in the battle in the first half and it was a bit route one but certainly in the second half we used the ball well.

“We should have at least scored one or two goals but when you’re chasing the game you become more anxious when those chances come your way.

“I’m pleased with our general play,” he added. “I just want us to be a bit more ruthless in the final third. We snatched at our chances.

“The way we’re playing is right but the results are totally wrong.

“It’s only ourselves that can turn it around and I have every confidence and every belief that we can do that.”

Edinburgh will focus on the positives ahead of the visit of Burton Albion to Rodney Parade on Saturday.

“People can judge it and say ‘three games and three defeats’ but we’ve got to look to the next game,” he said.

“We need to get a result so we give ourselves a platform to build from.

“We’ll continue to work hard, which is a gimme, dust ourselves down, regroup, refocus and go again against a difficult opponent.

“It’s not quite going for us but we won’t stop believing. I have every confidence and every belief in myself and I believe that this winless run will end soon.

“We have to keep believing and sooner or later our luck will turn.”