NEWPORT County AFC defender Dan Butler will miss the club’s FA Cup third-round clash with former Premier League champions Leicester City in January due to a new Football Association rule.

Butler is suspended for the highly-anticipated tie against the Foxes, which will be shown live on BBC One on January 6, after picking up two yellow cards in the FA Cup.

New rules introduced this season mean that a player who is cautioned twice in the competition will be banned for the next tie.

Butler was shown a yellow card for a foul on Metropolitan Police midfielder Bayley Mummery in round one on November 10.

And he was also booked for his part in the melee that followed the red card for Wrexham’s Luke Young in the second-round replay at Rodney Parade last week.

The defender, who scored County’s fourth goal against Wrexham, will therefore miss out on taking on Leicester City’s stars at Rodney Parade.

Cameron Pring, who is on loan from Bristol City, could fill in at left-back or left wing-back but everyone at the club is desperately disappointed for Butler.

And it’s a situation that has angered manager Michael Flynn, who feels that the rule benefits the bigger clubs – such as Leicester – who only enter the competition at the third-round stage.

But Flynn hopes to have added to his squad before the cup clash and he believes the chance of playing in the tie could be an incentive to potential recruits.

“I’ve spoken to a few agents and players and we’ve got our list [of targets] together,” said the Exiles boss after Saturday’s League Two match against MK Dons was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Rodney Parade.

“We might not get everyone but hopefully we get a few in.

“I’ve discussed it with the board and they’ve been great in helping me with the planning.

“We’re at the right end of the table and we’ve got that FA Cup games as well, which is always going to help out and catch the attention of players who might be thinking about coming.”

Flynn again emphasised, however, that a player’s ability on the pitch will not be his only consideration when looking to bring fresh blood to the club.

“We’ve got a very good bond here,” he added. “As well as being good footballers, they’ve got to be the right characters as well because I don’t want to upset anybody or what we’ve got going on here.”

Speaking after Saturday’s postponement, MK Dons manager Paul Tisdale offered the Exiles his support for the third-round match.

“I wished them the very best for their FA Cup game against Leicester,” said Tisdale.

“It is always good to see a League Two side doing well in the FA Cup.

“They did well last year when they played Spurs, so good luck to Flynny and his team and I hope they give it a right good go.”