NEWPORT County AFC defender Priestley Farquharson will be sidelined until December after suffering a knee injury in a development team fixture.

The 24-year-old centre-back featured in the 3-3 draw with Yeovil Town behind closed doors at Dragon Park on Tuesday.

Farquharson started the season in the first team but was dropped after the heavy defeats to Southampton and Salford.

The centre-back forced his way back in thanks to a strong display as a substitute against Leyton Orient, starting against Harrogate and Northampton, but then returned to the bench.

He was brought on at Barrow last week but his bid to break back into the XI has been ended by a blow suffered against the Glovers.

INJURED: County defender Priestley Farquharson

INJURED: County defender Priestley Farquharson

“We had a behind closed doors game for the players that hadn't been playing,” said interim manager Wayne Hatswell. “He has got a grade-three tear in his knee and it will be a couple of months out, I'm afraid.

“Priestley has got a bit more of a physical presence for us as well, so we will miss that.

"I am gutted for him because he is a good lad, he had fallen out the team a little bit of late but he had been working hard in training.”

County have James Clarke and Cameron Norman as options as right-sided centre-backs and they have received a boost on the left.

Stalwart Mickey Demetriou missed the 2-1 defeat in Barrow with a knee injury but is fit for tomorrow's League Two clash with Scunthorpe.

Striker Dom Telford is also back in contention for a starting spot after he missed the trip to Cumbria with a tight hamstring.

Scunthorpe captain Harry Davis is in contention to return for the visitors.

The 30-year-old defender has been unavailable for the last two games after suffering from a head injury which required stitches against Exeter.

Harry Bunn will also return after a short spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Ryan Loft, scorer of a screamer when the sides met at Glanford Park last season, will feature for the first time in two months following a cheekbone injury.

The teams drew 1-1 at Scunthorpe last season before County hammered the Iron 4-0 in April with three goals scored in the first half.