Liverpool loanee Adam Lewis suffers injury blow at Newport County

The defender came off in the first half of the League Two defeat at Salford City last week and scans have revealed a serious injury.

The 23-year-old, who has made 12 appearances this season after returning for a second spell in Newport, will be helped in his rehabilitation by Liverpool.

It leaves Newcastle loanee Matty Bondswell as the first-choice left-back with versatile forward Will Evans next in line.

“It will be longer than December, he is out and it’s a similar injury to last year but on the opposite side,” said Coughlan after Lewis’ first spell was ended early.

“It’s a really bad one and a tough one to take. Adam was fuming as he came off because he said it was the best he has felt in 12 months going into a game.”

Newport County defender Adam Lewis (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

Lewis has joined a lengthy list of long-term absentees that features defenders James Clarke (groin) and Kyle Jameson (hip), midfielder Harry Charsley (ankle) and strikers Seb Palmer-Houlden (hamstring) and Offrande Zanzala (knee).

Matt Baker is on the comeback trail from a hamstring injury suffered at Stoke City before he returned for a second loan spell at County on deadline day.

His fellow centre-back Declan Drysdale is being assessed after limping off with a leg injury in Tuesday’s 2-1 win against Colchester United.

“We have asked a lot of Declan to come out of the physio room and go back on the pitch,” said Coughlan after the defender missed the start of the campaign.

“Trying to manage him and having him for the long-term will be far more important than risking him.”

County host Harrogate in League Two tomorrow and after naming a six-man bench against Colchester may be forced to name five substitutes unless they opt to select an academy prospect.

Coughlan said: “At this moment in time we are not healthy, we don’t have a fully fit squad, but what we do have is a group of players that are willing to put their bodies on the line and run the extra mile for the club. That sometimes can be more powerful than having a fully-fit squad.

“We are in the middle of a hurricane, we are out in the ocean in our dinghy and the waves are battering us. We just need to ride the waves, get through this period and get these lads back healthy and fit.”