County waiting on skipper Brough

11:03am Friday 27th October 2006

NEWPORT County boss Peter Beadle is sweating on the fitness of skipper John Brough, pictured, ahead of tomorrow's huge FA Cup clash at Tonbridge Angels (kick-off 3pm).

The importance of the final qualifying round visit to the Ryman Premier outfit can't be underestimated, as much as Conference South promotion is the ultimate aim for the season, this clash provides Beadle and his charges with a chance to cover themselves in glory.

Every team from League One and League Two will be in the hat for the first round of the most famous domestic cup competition in the world and a clash with the likes of Nottingham Forest or Swansea City will have supporters salivating.

The potential of a home clash against one of the big boys could bring Sky television into play and the revenue generated from such a tie would have a massive impact on County's season, generating money to allow Beadle to further boost his squad.

This is why the presence of Brough is so important, despite Craig Hughes' brilliant recent form Brough is the main man for the Exiles, his mere presence gives everyone a lift and Beadle will afford him every chance of recovering his fitness after missing out on the Sutton win with a calf strain.

Brough will travel with the team and take a fitness test tomorrow lunchtime.

Left-back Damon Searle is out of the clash, he will be sidelined for up to another ten days after suffering complications following a dead league sustained at Cambridge on October 7.

Searle has suffered deep inner muscular bleeding, but a specialist is happy the problem has been caught early enough not to require surgery.

Searle is undergoing light ultrasound treatment and intensive massages to elevate the problem.

County are also without defender Steve Jenkins, cup-tied after playing for Worcester City in the competition this season.

With at least two defenders out, Beadle has recalled Stewart Edwards from his loan spell at Carmarthen and he will start almost certainly start at right-back.

The draw for the FA Cup is at 5.10pm tomorrow evening and Beadle believes that in itself should take care of his pre-match team talk.

"If the lads can't get motivated for a possible game against one of the big boys in round one, then something is seriously wrong," he said.

"Nothing would give me greater pleasure than sitting on the bus on the way home with everyone buzzing about being in the next round, but the lads have to perform in order for that to happen.

"We must be disciplined and take our chances, but our recent form gives me every reason to believe we will do just that."

Beadle says he will have no problem in fielding youngster Shane Brewer at left-back if Brough isn't fit, Paul Cochlin likely to shift across if the skipper does play.

He explained: "I thought Brewer did excellently when he made his debut last week and I would have no hesitation in starting him.

"We have a responsibility throughout the team to help each other out and defending is a team effort, it isn't about one particular player."

Midfielder Lee Jenkins is closing in on a first team return and it is hoped he will resume training over the weekend.

He tweaked his knee - the other knee to the one that has kept him out all season - in a training session two weeks ago, but Beadle is hoping to slowly integrate him back into full training.

County's move for Taunton Town striker Steve Cook, 19, has hit the buffers after the teenager opted to train with Forest Green Rovers with a view to signing for them. This will not affect County striker Matt Prosser's loan move to Taunton.