Newport County manager Michael Flynn assesses his options after skipper's injury

The skipper was substituted after just 15 minutes of Tuesday’s defeat to Colchester United with a hamstring problem.

Flynn knows that he’s likely to be without Labadie for a number of weeks and he admits that a lengthy lay-off will be a big blow.

“We’ve got a scan for tomorrow so I’ve told him to stay off today,” said the Exiles boss.

“There’s no point in him travelling in and he needs to rest up as much as he can.

“He’s massive for us, not just in the games but every day in training.

“He’s been brilliant. I can’t speak highly enough of him. Since I’ve taken over he’s been first class and unfortunately we’ll be missing him for a game or two, hopefully [only a game or two].”

Labadie has been deployed in an attacking midfield role in the last three games.

He was replaced by Sean Rigg on Tuesday but Flynn was not entirely happy with the substitute’s performance.

“We haven’t got a like-for-like replacement [for Labadie] but I don’t think many people thought he’d do well in that forward role and he has done,” said the manager.

“Ben Tozer has come in and kind of taken that defensive role that Joss left and now I’ve got to find someone to fill the forward role.

“I thought we missed Joss [on Tuesday] and it’s unfair for me to think that anyone is going to come on and make the impact that he does.

“I probably wanted Sean to do some of his work further up the pitch because he’s very good on the football and I want him creating and scoring those chances.”

David Pipe took the captain’s armband after Labadie’s departure on Tuesday and he will keep it for Saturday’s home clash with Mansfield Town, unless Mark O’Brien (above) earns a recall in defence.

“I thought David did very well on Tuesday,” said Flynn.

“I’m really pleased for him because people wrote him off when he was brought back here.

“Mark O’Brien is fit and raring to go and it’s a nice option to have because he’s another leader,” he added.

“He’s an obvious one if I am going to put somebody back in.”

New signing Paul Hayes is not yet ready to play and fellow striker Shawn McCoulsky seems set to be on the bench again.

The manager does admit, however, that McCoulsky is pushing for a starting spot after taking his goal tally to six with three in his last three games.

“It’s all I can ask of him,” said Flynn. “I’m putting him on the pitch and asking him to score goals and he’s doing that.

“Do I think he’s ready to start at the moment? I’m not quite sure.

“We saw against Swansea [under-21s] that there are parts of his game that he needs to improve.

“But I can’t argue with the fact that he’s got six goals and I’m absolutely delighted with him because he’s a great kid.

“He is knocking on the door but I think Frank [Nouble] was very good the other night.

“He caused them a lot of problems and they were doubling up on him.

“Even though he’s not scoring he has been providing and opening up teams for other players to get in.”

Flynn also revealed that Marlon Jackson has returned to training after three months out with a hamstring injury but Robbie Willmott will miss out again with a knee problem.

“Marlon is training,” he said. “It’s been frustrating for him because he’s a great kid and he works hard. He’s desperate to get back out on that football pitch.

“With Robbie it’s nothing serious but we just have to make sure it’s right.

“If it takes an extra week then so be it because I’d rather an extra week than lose him for another six.

“We don’t want to put him in and have him break down.”