NEWPORT County AFC’s bid for a top-10 finish in League Two could be scuppered by a sickness bug which has hit the squad this week.

With that, and injuries to the likes of Joss Labadie and Scot Bennett, boss Michael Flynn is set to have a few selection headaches for Saturday's trip to Carlisle United.

Striker Paul Hayes, one of those to pick up the bug, definitely misses the Exiles’ final game of the season (kick-off 3pm) at Brunton Park.

Flynn, who is registered as a player, has ruled himself out of contention for the game which will be Keith Curle’s last as Carlisle manager.

“We’re not looking great,” he said. “There’s a sickness bug to add to the injuries. We’ll make do with what we’ve got.

“It would have been ideal to give Jay Foulston a game but he’s away with Wales.

“Definitely not available are Joss Labadie, Paul Hayes and Scot Bennett, and a few others are touch and go.

“I won’t be playing our youth players, they aren’t good enough, they are way off.

“Modou (Touray) will be involved, I don’t class him and Jay as youth team players now, but the others have got a long way to go.

“I gave a few of the fringe players a chance on Tuesday night and they didn’t do very well, so it goes to show how small our squad is.”

He added: “If it was a home game I would have (played) but there’s no way with that long journey to Carlisle – I think I’d have a back spasm within the first five minutes.

“I’d like to be in a position where we can put a lot of youth in but we’re not.

“I don’t think it’s fair on the youth team boys who are not ready if I did that. It could be more detrimental to their progression.

“A few of them had a good run out against Bristol City in a behind-closed-doors friendly so I had a good look and beyond one or two there’s no depth there at all.”