NEWPORT County AFC manager Graham Westley bemoaned a lack of attacking options available to him during Tuesday’s defeat to Wycombe Wanderers and he hopes the situation will improve ahead of Saturday’s trip to Blackpool.

Strikers Jon Parkin, Reece Grego-Cox, Jordan Green and Marlon Jackson have all been missing in recent weeks and fellow forward Lenell John-Lewis has been sidelined since pre-season.

Westley has also been without defenders Jamie Turley and Kyle Cameron through injury and Paul Bignot due to suspension.

But midfielder Mark Randall returned to the bench in midweek and could be in contention for a starting spot at Bloomfield Road.

And, John-Lewis and Turley aside, Westley says most of others are closing in on a return to fitness.

“With every passing day the lads who’ve been out will be a step closer but I can’t forecast who will and won’t make the weekend,” said the Exiles boss.

“There’s lads that are coming back into training who are easing their way through sessions and getting a bit of a reaction – or not, as the case may be.

“And at a point they’ll become ready for selection.”

Parkin’s last act in a County shirt was to score a spectacular goal – his fourth of the season – before picking up a hamstring injury in the home defeat to League Two leaders Plymouth Argyle on October 22.

And Westley says he will not rush the 34-year-old back before he’s ready.

“Jon’s obviously been out for a while now so once he’s fit from injury it’s a question then of getting him fit to play games,” he said.

“And for an older player that’s obviously a tough call.

“We can expect him to be back in the frame and back in the 18 at some stage in the not too distant future and then it’s going to be a long road back.

“For older players when they’ve been out for a while it’s difficult to get them back to a level of fitness and certainly the level of fitness that I’m going to require all our lads to be at before their ready for starting selection.”