NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn has revealed that he’d like to add another striker to his books after admitting that his side haven’t scored enough goals this season.
County have the second-best defensive record in League Two, having conceded just 11 goals so far this season and kept an incredible eight clean sheets in 15 games.
But the Exiles attack has been less impressive with only 16 goals scored to date.
Only bottom-four sides Walsall, Stevenage and Morecambe have hit the net fewer times in the league.
“I’d like more goals,” said Flynn. “But it’s not just the forwards. We haven’t scored enough goals throughout the team.
“The defenders haven’t, the midfielders definitely haven’t, and the strikers could score more.
“Tristan [Abrahams] has got five, Podge [Padraig Amond] has got six. Jamille [Matt] will be up and running – he’s looked a lot sharper this week.
“And you’ve got Dom Poleon, who’s getting there. He’s knocking on the door now as well so we’ve got a good few options.
“But I still think we’re one short [up front]. We’ll have a look at that in January, unless something comes out of the blue.”
Abrahams has scored in the last two matches and is likely to retain his starting spot for tomorrow’s home clash with Salford City, but Flynn says only one player is guaranteed to start at present.
“I think at times we’ve played Tristan and Podge and they’ve done well,” said the Exiles boss.
“Jamma and Podge, we know can do well, and Jamma and Tristan have done well.
“We could throw Dom in there as well now, and even Lewis Collins can come in so we’ve got options.
“I’ll pick a team that I think can win the game. I’ve left out Jamille, I’ve left out Podge, I’ve left out Tristan and I’ll do what I need to do to win a game.
“Nobody is guaranteed to start, apart from Josh Sheehan – I’ll tell you he’s starting!”
One player who won’t be involved is captain Joss Labadie, who is serving a one-game ban after picking up his fifth yellow card if the campaign during last week’s 3-1 defeat at Colchester United.
But, despite his frustration, Flynn will not try to curb his skipper’s natural aggression.
“He plays on the edge, he’s wholehearted," said the manager. "And if you take that away from him, he’s half the player.
“There are a couple of others on four bookings as well and I’m just glad they haven’t all happened at once.
“I don’t want players to play within themselves.
“We had it a couple of years ago when Joss and Frank [Nouble] when we played up at Lincoln and we had the replay in the FA Cup against Tottenham at Wembley coming up and nobody wanted to miss that.
“It was tough. You’re asking them to be fully committed but even the slightest of fouls these days are given as a booking. Not every foul is a booking.”
Flynn expects Salford to provide a stern challenge this weekend.
“They’ve got a good squad and a good manager and they’ve found their way in the division now, it’s going to be a tough game,” he said.
“They’re going to want to come here and keep the mini unbeaten run they’ve got going and we’ve got to make sure we’re up for it.”
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