NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn has heaped praise on two members of his squad after their international call-ups were confirmed.

Tom King and Josh Sheehan will join the Wales squad for the upcoming international break - the first time County have had two players in the national side since the 1980s.

"It’s an unbelievable achievement for them both," said Flynn.

"I can’t remember the last time Newport County AFC had two players in the full Welsh squad."

There is a good reason for that, as the last time it happened was in 1983 against Brazil.

Newport's Nigel Vaughan and Steve Lowndes featured in the squad that day, with Wales battling to a 1-1 draw.

"No wonder I couldn’t remember it, I was two!" said Flynn.

"It’s good for the football club as well.

"I’m delighted for the players, they’ve worked hard.

"It shows players and clubs we want to do loans with that we are developing players and making them better."

Josh Sheehan's call-up for Wales is the first time the midfielder has been selected to represent his country, a feat made all the more impressive, according to Flynn, because of his recent injuries.

"He’s had a bad injury," he said.

"He was let go by Swansea. I was able to keep him here and he’s just getting better and better.

"I think he’s starting to fulfil his potential. There’s no doubt that he can play higher than League Two.

"When he’s playing with better players, training with them day in, day out, he’s only going to get better.

"It might suit him, playing higher up."

Asked whether he would prefer it if Sheehan’s potential move higher up the league structure took its time, Flynn said that the central midfield playmaker was a “very important player for this club”.

"It’s almost out of our hands if someone puts in an offer that the club can’t refuse."

Flynn said that Sheehan would be "fine" with the pressure which comes with playing on the international stage.

"International football is different to the hustle and bustle of League Two," he said.

"He’ll have a little bit of time on the ball."

Looking ahead to tomorrow's FA Cup clash with Leyton Orient, Flynn said that his side's promising start in the league would not diminish the importance of a competition in which the Exiles have punched above their weight in recent seasons.

"I’m a big FA Cup fan, I’ve said it numerous times. I love the competition, as a player, a fan and a manager," he said.

Flynn said he didn’t expect any of his injured players (Shepherd, Twine and Labadie) to return for the tie.

"But I’ll be going to try to win the game. It’s as simple as that," he said.

He said facing off with Orient was "a nice fixture, for the wrong reasons", referring to his close relationship with the late Orient and County manager Justin Edinburgh.

Edinburgh died in 2019 after suffering a cardiac arrest.

"I just wish he was here. I wish he was on the touchline and I was winding him up," he said.

"It wouldn’t have been just the 90 minutes; I would’ve been winding him up on the Friday and the Sunday.

"Especially if we’d won."