NEWPORT County boss Justin Edinburgh is hoping supporters are ready to give striker Danny Crow a fresh start at the club as he returns to the first team fold, writes Michael Pearlman.

The former Luton striker hasn’t kicked a ball this term due to hamstring and back injuries, but is included in the squad for Saturday's clash with AFC Wimbledon.

And with Christian Jolley departing for Forest Green on loan, Crow is likely to be among the subs as he looks to get his County career back on track.

Crow is entering his third season with the Exiles and his two campaigns to date couldn’t be more different.

In his first season he was arguably among County’s main men, rarely on the losing side as Edinburgh labelled him as his lucky charm.

However, he struggled for form last season, especially after Christmas when the Rodney Parade pitch dictated Newport play a direct style and with results going against the Exiles, a section of the fans turned Crow into the boo boy. And that isn’t a situation Edinburgh wants to see continue.

“Danny is a very good player who can contribute, his record here speaks for itself,” he said.

“I’m not sure of the stats up to the present day, but in his first 18-months it was a very high win ratio.

“He’s had his setbacks in pre-season but I’ve got a lot of time and respect for Danny, he’s always played when we’ve really needed results and that is a testament to him.

“You can’t please every fan at every football club; you will always have heroes and villains. Some of it has been unjust at times, but I also think Danny understands that at times he hasn’t helped himself.

“But he’s worked hard in the past month to get back into the squad and a player of his quality is always welcomed by a manager.

“We didn’t play to his strengths last season in the New Year, he said to me himself when he was injured that he’d give anything to play in the team right now with the style of football we are playing and there were elements against him last year.

“But he never shirked responsibility and whenever the surfaces were good he came out with a lot of credit.

“I want to get him back out on the pitch and firing.”

County also welcome back Mark Byrne, Darren Jones and Ismail Yakubu for the visit of the Dons, but Mike Flynn and Ryan Jackson have joined Newport’s increasingly injury list.

Both had scans yesterday to determine the extent of the injuries picked up in Tuesday’s 2-1 JPT defeat to League One Swindon Town.