NEWPORT County AFC top scorer Will Evans could be pressed into emergency action as a left-back on Saturday against a Tranmere dangerman in the running for League Two’s young player of the season.

The Exiles’ problems deepened on Tuesday night when they lost 3-1 to Accrington Stanley and potentially lost two more players, both of them options down the left.

Adam Lewis’ second spell on loan from Liverpool is over after he was red-carded at the death for a studs-up tackle.

He will be suspended for the final three games of the campaign while Matty Bondswell is a doubt after being forced off in the first half.

The Newcastle loanee had been deployed ahead of Lewis down the left but landed very heavily after an aerial challenge in the 28th minute.

Bondswell continued but went down for treatment on the stroke of half-time and, despite looking keen to continue, was withdrawn by the medical staff.

South Wales Argus: Will Evans on the ball for County against Manchester UnitedWill Evans on the ball for County against Manchester United (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

With full-backs Shane McLoughlin and Lewis Payne also injured, that could mean a return to left-back for Evans.

The hard-working forward made his Football League debut in that position against Sutton at the start of last season and returned there in the run-in as a wing-back.

Evans has scored 24 goals in 52 games in the current campaign, albeit he is currently on a relative drought on nine games since a penalty at Harrogate on February 27.

Whoever starts down the left will be directly up against Rob Apter, who is one of the contenders for League Two young player of the season after being shortlisted with MK Dons’ Max Dean and Stockport’s Ethan Pye.

The left-footer, who came through the ranks at Tranmere but is on loan from League One Blackpool, has scored nine goals and notched six assists in 34 league appearances.

Apter will be a serious threat down the right wing for Nigel Adkins’ side, who have moved to safety but head to Newport on a four-game winless streak.

County are also looking to end an joyless run after suffering five games on the spin, but their chances are not helped by the lengthy list of absentees.

Coughlan was without seven senior players – defenders Shane McLoughlin, Ryan Delaney, James Clarke, Josh Seberry and Declan Drysdale plus midfielders Aaron Wildig and James Waite – for the 3-1 loss to Accrington on Tuesday and is unlikely to get any help for the run-in.

“We have what we have. We might even get back to the scenario where we can’t fill the bench,” said the manager.

“We’ve been through this already this season and no football club in the land could carry the injuries from that period in September, October and November and now all of a sudden in March and April.”

County have options up front but are down to the bare bones in other departments.

“We are playing too many players who shouldn’t be on the pitch, they should be resting or in the physio’s room because they are carrying knocks, bumps and bruises,” said Coughlan.

“It’s a tough time but the lads will just have to keep going and I can’t give people a rest.”

Midfielder Bryn Morris has started all 43 league games while Evans, with two sub appearances, and defender/midfielder Scot Bennett, off the bench once, have also featured in them all.

Saturday League Two fixtures: Crawley v Colchester, Crewe v Grimsby, Doncaster v Accrington, Gillingham v Barrow, Harrogate v Sutton, MK Dons v Mansfield, Newport County v Tranmere, Salford v Bradford, Stockport v Morecambe, Swindon v AFC Wimbledon, Walsall v Notts County, Wrexham v Forest Green.