NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn admits that strikers Padraig Amond and Jamille Matt have yet to match their excellent form from last season.

The duo scored 43 times between them in all competitions in the 2018-2019 campaign and that will be hard to match this time around.

Amond is again top scorer with six goals in 16 appearances so far, but Matt has netted just twice in 11 games and he was taken off at half-time against Crawley Town in midweek.

Tristan Abrahams came off the bench to level from the penalty spot in that game and he could force his way into the starting XI at Colchester United tomorrow.

“Tristan is giving me something to think about and that’s good,” said Flynn.

“I don’t think Jamma and Podge have quite hit top form yet either, so we’ll see what [team] I pick.

“I’ve got options and that’s good. I’m not just thinking I have to pick this 11. We can change it and I’m sure, over the course of this season, it will be changed a few times.

“There will be some so-called ‘bigger-name players’ who will miss out or be on the bench, but I’ll pick the team that I think can win us the football match.

“It’s not to make a statement, it’ll be the boys who I think can do a job for us in that particular game.”

South Wales Argus:

Left wing-back George Nurse (above) is another player hoping to claim a starting spot after impressing off the bench in recent weeks.

“It’s going to be a tough game but I’m looking forward to hopefully getting some more minutes and showing everyone what I can do,” said the Bristol City loanee.

“I’ve been getting a bit of a sniff recently and I’ve just got to keep working hard in training.

“That’s all I can do and hopefully the gaffer gives me a chance and puts me in the starting line-up.

“I want as many minutes as I can to get as much experience as I can and to help the team.

“I’ve come up from Conference South last year and it is a big step up, but I’ve enjoyed it,” he added.

“I like testing myself and hopefully I can get some more minutes on the pitch now.”

County have lost their last two games in Colchester but Nurse is optimistic that they can change that record this weekend.

“I haven’t played there before but I’ve been speaking to the boys and they’ve told me they haven’t had the best run of form there,” said the 20-year-old.

“Hopefully we can change that. We feel like we owe them one and we want to put on a performance and bring the three points home.

“We go into every game with the same mentality – to get three points – and it will be the same in this game.”

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