NEWPORT County boss Jimmy Dack has ruled Robbie Willmott out for the season with injury.

The 24-year old has been sidelined for most of 2015 with foot and now a thigh problem and won’t recover in time to face either York or Oxford in Newport’s final two games.

And Dack has rubbished suggestions that Willmott is missing games in order to manufacture a reunion with ex-County manager Justin Edinburgh.

The former Luton player is out of contract this summer and several County fans believes it is only a matter of time before the ex-Cambridge man is announced as a Gillingham player, following his former boss to Priestfield.

However, the South Wales Argus understands that Gillingham are not targeting Willmott and don’t plan to move for him this summer, with Dack or a new manager likely to have a good opportunity to convince Willmott to re-commit to Rodney Parade.

“Robbie is out for the season, he won’t make it so there is no question of trying to rush him back, we’ve got to try and do what is right by him,” Dack explained.

“He’s out of contract in the summer and we need to get him fit, properly fit, for next season.

“Whether that is to hopefully stay at this club or for whatever goes on his life, wherever he goes, that’s what we need to do.”

But Dack rubbished the Gillingham rumours.

“There is nothing in the link with Gillingham, it isn’t that at all,” he said.

“Believe me; I’ve seen him at the training ground, absolutely devastated that he can’t run.

“I don’t think any player would not give their all when you are fighting for the play-offs. There are no lies about it. Robbie is hurt.”

The Argus understands that movements between Rodney Parade and Priestfield will be extremely limited this summer, with just one out of contract member of the Exiles squad interesting ex-boss Edinburgh, who doesn’t want to dismantle a group of players he put together during his four-year tenure as County manager.

The latest development follows Willmott’s categorical denial to the Argus in March that he’s seeking a move to Kent.

“Can you put something in the paper for me?” he said on March 15. “I’m getting loads of messages and questions from fans and they are all saying I’ve agreed a pre-contract with Gillingham. It’s totally untrue.

“I picked up an injury in training on Thursday and that’s the only reason I wasn’t involved. But people are saying I’m not playing for the club again and that is total rubbish.”