MATT Baker will miss Newport County AFC’s League Two clash with Wrexham and faces a fitness battle for the mouth-watering FA Cup clash with Manchester United.

The Wales Under-21s defender was forced off in the closing stages of last Saturday’s 1-0 win at Doncaster after being clipped on his right ankle.

The Stoke loanee received treatment and tried to continue but had to be replaced and missed Tuesday’s FA Cup replay win against Eastleigh.

The 20-year-old will be sidelined for the Rodney Parade encounter with promotion-chasing Welsh rivals Wrexham and will hope to be back in the mix for the Manchester United game a week on Sunday.

South Wales Argus: DOUBT: Newport County defender Matt Baker could miss the Manchester United cup tieDOUBT: Newport County defender Matt Baker could miss the Manchester United cup tie (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

“He won’t train with us and the best that we can hope for is the start of next week,” said manager Graham Coughlan.

“Man United, we might look at, but it’s probably two weeks if pushed for a time scale on it.”

County opted to move midfielder Scot Bennett back into the heart of a three-man defence at Eastleigh with captain Ryan Delaney to his left and James Clarke to his right.

Kyle Jameson made a return as an unused substitute after being sidelined since August with a hip injury.

The left-sided central defender made a promising start to life at Rodney Parade after being released by Tranmere before suffering the blow in the defeat at Crewe.

South Wales Argus: RETURN: County defender Kyle JamesonRETURN: County defender Kyle Jameson (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

Jameson was signed on a two-year contract and his track record suggests the Exiles will be cautious with his comeback.

The 25-year-old played just 14 times for Tranmere last season and managed 15 for Oldham the previous year.

County continue to work left-back Adam Lewis towards full fitness after a quad injury with the Liverpool loanee taken off at half-time at both Doncaster and Eastleigh in planned moves.

Southampton right-back Lewis Payne replaced him in Yorkshire and Hampshire with Shane McLoughlin switching to the left.

County were able to name a nine-man bench in the FA Cup clash but return to seven for League Two against Wrexham.

Seven of the subs – goalkeeper Jonny Maxted, defenders Jameson, Harrison Bright, Matty Bondswell and Nelson Sanca, attacking midfielder Nathan Wood and forward Kiban Rai – were unused at Eastleigh.