CAPTAIN Joss Labadie is in line to return to Newport County AFC’s starting line-up for this evening’s trip to League Two promotion rivals Tranmere.

The skipper missed Saturday’s goalless draw with Stevenage after suffering a knock to his knee in a match-winning performance at Walsall last Wednesday.

Manager Michael Flynn opted not to risk the influential midfielder, whose place went to Anthony Hartigan, but said on Saturday that he should be fit to face one of his former clubs in Birkenhead.

“We missed Joss,” admitted Flynn. “The lads did their best in their today but sometimes he gives us that edge winning the ball higher up the field.”

Flynn and his management team will mull over going with the team that performed so well at Walsall or freshening it up given the hectic schedule, with the likes of Luke Gambin, Padraig Amond, Jake Scrimshaw and Ryan Taylor options in the final third.

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In-form Tranmere have climbed up to fourth thanks to a superb run of 23 points from a possible 30 Rovers boast arguably the division’s best finisher in former Everton striker James Vaughan and are fresh from a 3-1 win at Leyton Orient.

The hosts will be without former County loanee Otis Khan for the clash at Prenton Park.

The midfielder has missed the last two games with a hamstring problem and it will be another couple of weeks before he is fit enough to return to a team that has won 10 of their last 13 games.

Youngster Kyle Hayde also remains on the sidelines with a thigh injury. Centre-back Sid Nelson is a doubt after missing the game against Leyton Orient with the injury that forced him off against Carlisle.

County won 1-0 at Rodney Parade earlier this season thanks to a goal by Saikou Janneh, who has since returned to Bristol City. Rovers had Paul Lewis sent off for a challenge on Labadie.