NEWPORT County AFC have lost one regular starter through Ryan Delaney’s season-ending injury but a number of dependables are still going strong.
The Exiles selected Delaney in the XI for 31 of 32 League Two fixtures until he suffered a knee injury against Notts County last week.
The loss of the Irishman, whose only previous missed game was against Bradford after a suspension for two yellow cards against Barrow, led to an opening at left centre-back for the 1-0 win against Gillingham.
The experienced James Clarke was picked for the role, switching from the middle with Scot Bennett taking his place at the heart of the defence.
Delaney is gone for the campaign and manager Graham Coughlan will hope that several of his key figures that are racking up the minutes can avoid such misfortune.
County have four players who have featured in every single League Two fixture in 2023/24 with Bryn Morris leading the way with 32 starts.
The midfielder has been a huge hit since arriving from Grimsby and is one of just 11 players – six of them outfield – to have started ALL of their club’s fixtures in the fourth tier.
Salford's Alex Cairns (GK), Stockport's Ben Hinchliffe (goalkeeper), Wimbledon's Alex Bass (goalkeeper), Gillingham’s Jake Turner (goalkeeper), Crewe's Rio Adebisi (defender), Barrow's Niall Canavan (defender) and MK Dons' Alex Gilbey (midfield) are all on 33.
Three players share Morris’ feat of a perfect 32 – Mansfield's Christy Pym (goalkeeper), Notts County goal machine Macauley Langstaff (forward) and Doncaster’s Owen Bailey (midfield).
The Exiles midfielder’s record is even more impressive when you include other competitions.
The 27-year-old has played in all 43 games, with his goal against Manchester United one of six strikes, and the only time he was on the bench was when he came on at half-time against Cheltenham in the EFL Trophy.
Morris needs 14 more starts to achieve a perfect season while three of his teammates are also ever-presents.
Bennett, Shane McLoughlin and Will Evans have started 31 of 32 and made one substitute outing; Bennett came off the bench at Tranmere, McLoughlin versus Colchester and Evans against Grimsby.
The influential quartet are on target to pass 60 games in a season and, given that big numbers went up for added time at the start of the campaign, Coughlan’s conditioning team and medical staff will be watching closely.
County travel to MK Dons this weekend and then head to Yorkshire to face Harrogate on Tuesday night before a home clash with Mansfield – three promotion contenders in the space of eight days.
“It is tough and a big ask. We do keep asking the lads to keep going and it’s the same boys that are going time and time again,” admitted the manager, who has selected Nick Townsend in goal for 30 of 32 fixtures.
Thankfully, County have more options on their bench to try and share the load after they were down to the bare bones in the autumn.
“I've said this since day dot, I would like a couple more options and choices,” said Coughlan before last week’s 1-0 win against Gillingham.
“I'd like to move one or two things around and freshen things up like at Doncaster when we were able to bring senior players off the bench.
“That gave us energy, legs and a fresh impetus in the game to come away with the three points.
“We don't have the biggest of squads plus injuries have hit our numbers, so choice is not something that I am blessed with.”
One thing is for sure, Morris, Bennett, McLoughlin and Evans won’t want to be given a breather.
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