MANAGER Michael Flynn fears Newport County AFC could be without defender David Longe-King for three months after the new signing’s training ground injury.
The 26-year-old arrived from St Albans City on a one-year deal in August, keen to impress and make the step up to the Football League.
He featured in pre-season friendlies against Bristol Rovers and Cardiff City but then suffered a groin issue in what Flynn described as a “freak incident” that would lead to a lengthy lay-off.
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The manager explained why he declined to say what sort of injury it was after the 1-0 EFL Trophy defeat the Cheltenham Town.
“I wasn’t being funny on Tuesday night, I can tell you it’s in the groin area but if you want to know the ins and outs of the injury then you are better off speaking to the physio because he could put you down the right path,” said Flynn.
“There’s a lot of terminology and differences to what I would say, so I don’t want to say the wrong thing.
“I don’t want to put an exact timeframe on it because it depends on how he reacts in the first four to six weeks. We are probably looking at double that, more like 12 weeks.
Flynn has signed seven players this summer – Longe-King, Liam Shephard, Ryan Taylor, Kevin Ellison and loanees Saikou Janneh, Scott Twine and Brandon Cooper.
He has also re-signed influential utility man Scot Bennett after he was initially released because of the financial hit from the coronavirus pandemic.
The manager aims to add a couple more recruits before the deadline but won’t rush given the busy start to the campaign that sees the Exiles kick off their League Two campaign at Scunthorpe on Saturday before a home Carabao Cup tie against Cambridge United then a Rodney Parade clash with EFL new boys Barrow.
“We’ve got until October 5 and have one or two players coming back very soon (Scot Bennett and Ellison have not featured yet),” said Flynn.
“We will have to reassess that but I know the areas that we need (to strengthen) but I am willing to be patient if the right one comes along.
“There’s no point me saying (what areas) because it could all change if we get two injuries on Saturday.”
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