Newport County defender Declan Drysdale suffers injury blow

The 23-year-old has gone under the knife after suffering a blow in the first half of the defeat in Carlisle on January 14.

Drysdale finished that game – his ninth start on the spin in League Two – but will now be out for two months.

The Merseysider, a summer signing from Coventry City, had been performing strongly on the right of a defensive three with Priestley Farquharson and Mickey Demetriou.

Declan Drysdale (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“It’s a blow, he has been very good for us and has come on leaps and bounds,” said manager Graham Coughlan.

“He has grown and has been developing very well, so this is cruel and harsh but it’s part and parcel of football. “He will come back and be stronger person for this.

“He will be missed on the pitch and also off it, because he’s a massive character. He is a really big player for us.

“We are probably looking at eight weeks, so there is a possibility we could have him for a couple of games in April. It’s more of less the end of the season and if we get him back it will be a bonus.”

James Clarke, fresh back from his own knee injury, replaced Farquharson in the side for the 2-1 win over Swindon.

The injury blow led to County moving for Stoke City’s Wales Under-21s defender Matt Baker in the January transfer window and the loanee was an unused substitute against the Robins.

Midfielder Scot Bennett and full-back Cameron Norman are the other options should Coughlan stick with his preferred 3-5-2 system.

“We’ve got 19 games in 12 weeks so will need everybody,” said the manager.