OFFRANDE Zanzala is in line to make his Newport County AFC return in Tuesday’s EFL Trophy clash with Southampton Under-21s at Rodney Parade.

The striker, a summer arrival from Barrow, has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring three games into his Exiles career.

The rapid 25-year-old returned to training this week and has been pencilled in for the clash with the young Saints in Newport along with central defender Priestley Farquharson, who is on the comeback trail from a hamstring strain suffered at Leyton Orient at the start of the month.

Zanzala showed great promise in the opening weeks of the season with his pace and ball carrying and should add to County’s firepower.

“Oz has been great, he trained this week and can’t wait to get back involved,” said sporting director Darren Kelly, who is in charge while the Exiles hunt a successor for sacked manager James Rowberry.

“To be honest, he wanted to be involved at Crawley but you can't rush and are guided by the medical professionals.

“It would be tempting to put him on the bench but we have to be cautious and don't want to go backwards.

“We have to stick to the timelines and get him back in the squad for Tuesday, and hopefully get him good minutes.”

Defender James Clarke and forward Will Evans have had niggles but should be fit to face Crawley while defender/midfielder Matty Dolan has trained this week after the captain missed the last four games with an ankle injury.