NEWPORT County AFC will be boosted by the return of Scot Bennett for tomorrow's League Two clash with Swindon Town but Robbie Willmott is missing after testing positive for coronavirus.
Defender/midfielder Bennett has been sidelined since suffering a foot injury in the September defeat to Northampton at Rodney Parade.
The Exiles were fearing the worst when the 30-year-old landed awkwardly and was stretchered off with his left foot in a protective boot.
However, scans revealed there was no ligament damage and it was a clean break of a metatarsal, allowing him to make a rapid recovery.
The influential Cornishman has played a full part in training this week and is poised to feature against the Robins nine weeks after his injury.
County will still be without Willmott, who is nearing the end of his isolation period.
The midfielder has arguably been the Exiles' player of the season so far but missed last weekend's win at Hartlepool because of Covid.
The 31-year-old will not be available against Swindon but should be back in contention for a pair of away games next week with County heading to Crawley on Tuesday and Colchester on Friday.
However, Willmott's bid for a swift return will be hindered by his inability to train while in isolation, plus Ed Upson impressed in his absence in Hartlepool.
Sixth-placed County have had a full week to prepare for the meeting against seventh-placed Swindon but the games will come thick and fast over the next week, meaning manager James Rowberry might tinker with his team.
"As a staff we do look ahead from a planning point of view to know what possible changes we might need to make along the way or tweaks of formation to try and exploit the opposition's weaknesses," he said.
"But I find it hard to look past Saturday because that is what I have done so far with the rest of the staff.
"We have a little break after Colchester because we are not in the FA Cup and it's an important period.
"Let's get the performance right and I talk a lot about doing what we do with regard to processes, but we want to win.
“Whether it’s a one-on-one battle, a header, a tackle, a race. We have to come out on top."
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