Newport County suffer Harry Charsley injury blow

The 26-year-old joined fellow influential midfielder Aaron Wildig on the sidelines for the 1-1 draw with Barrow at Rodney Parade.

Charsley was at the game with his left foot in a moon boot after turning awkwardly in training.

County will seek the opinion of a specialist but the midfielder, who arrived from Port Vale in January and had featured in every League Two fixture this season, is likely to be out for at least six weeks.

“There was no challenge, he just turned and his ankle gave way. It was a non-contact injury in training, which is frustrating,” said manager Graham Coughlan.

“It could be anything from six to 10 weeks, we have to wait on the specialists that have seen him. The boot is a precaution to stabilise the leg and we will do everything we can to get him back as quickly as possible.”

OUT: County midfielder Harry Charsley (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

County are currently without Charsley, Wildig (groin) and long-term injury victims Offrande Zanzala (knee ligaments), Seb Palmer-Houlden (hamstring) and Kyle Jameson (hip).

The loss of Charsley led to Southampton loanee Lewis Payne making a first start at right-back against Barrow with Shane McLoughlin moving to midfield and scoring a cracker.

“They are arguably starters and we went into our game without some of our main players, so we would like a bit of luck to shine on us at some stage,” said Coughlan.

“We are short on numbers and competition for places is not where I would like it to be at the moment in time, but that is the hand that we have been dealt.”

County have got one player back after the return of central defender Declan Drysdale, who made a brief cameo in the 4-1 loss at Crawley then played the entire second half of the draw with Barrow after the dismissal of Ryan Delaney.

The captain will be suspended for one game, Saturday’s home encounter with Bradford, after being sent off for two yellow cards.