NEWPORT County AFC manager Justin Edinburgh says the postponement of Saturday’s home clash with AFC Wimbledon could help his side to victory at Wycombe Wanderers on Boxing Day.

The League Two clash at Rodney Parade was called off by the match referee shortly after midday on Saturday with parts of the pitch deemed to be unplayable due to waterlogging.

County have three matches in seven days starting on Thursday at Wycombe before the trip to Burton Albion on Sunday, December 29, and the home clash with Oxford United on New Year’s Day.

With that in mind Edinburgh opted against making his players train on Saturday afternoon and he’s hoping the rest will do them good ahead of the hectic festive fixture list.

“We’ve given the players the weekend off now and we’ll be back in on Monday to prepare for the Wycombe game on Boxing Day,” said the Exiles boss.

“It gives us a little bit of respite and the players get a few days of well-earned rest ahead of a hectic schedule.

“I don’t think it will do us any harm but I think what we have lost is a little bit of momentum.

“I think as a player you want to play when you’re in the kind of form that we are in as far as the league is concerned, especially after last week’s win at Portsmouth.

“We’ve been fantastic and we wanted to continue that but it wasn’t to be.”

County dropped to sixth in the table after Saturday’s other games while Wycombe warmed up for the Boxing Day clash with a thumping 4-1 home win over Northampton Town, a result that cost Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd his job.

Edinburgh may also see two of his injured players return to fitness by the time the squad travels to Adams Park.

Ismail Yakubu, who has missed the last four games with a hip injury picked up at Oxford on November 26, could be available.

And fellow defender Andrew Hughes, who picked up a hamstring problem in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat to Peterborough United on December 10, may also be fit to play some part against the Chairboys.

“We have one or two players who won’t be too far away by Boxing Day and maybe Ismail and Hughesy might be fit by then so there are always pluses and negatives to a postponement,” he said.

“We will be fully prepared for Wycombe now and hopefully the rest will stand us in good stead to pick up three points.

“We’re going to need fresh bodies because it is a busy period but it’s one that we look forward to.”