BOSS Nelson Jardim is set to give players that he disappointed on opening weekend the chance to shine when Newport County AFC travel to Leyton Orient in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

The Exiles head to Brisbane Road tomorrow (kick-off 7.30pm) after suffering last-gasp despair in their League Two opener at Cheltenham when on-loan Cardiff midfielder Joel Colwill made it 3-2 to the hosts in the 96th minute.

County had shown spirit to fight back from 2-0 down thanks to goals from Courtney Baker-Richardson and Oliver Greaves and were the better side in the second half.

Head coach Jardim will be keen to build on the positives from Whaddon Road ahead of Saturday’s first Rodney Parade fixture of the campaign against Doncaster.

However, he is also set to give opportunities to several players who failed to make the XI on opening weekend when they face an Orient side who started League One with a 2-1 home loss to Bolton Wanderers.

The League Cup doesn’t have the financial incentives of the FA Cup, or even the EFL Trophy, and Jardim is set to tinker.

BOSS: Newport County head coach Nelson Jardim (Image: Joseph D’Ambrogio/Huw Evans Agency)

“We have to learn from Cheltenham and move on. I am sure the boys will give us another good game,” said the head coach.

“It’s a chance to see how other players who didn’t have the chance to play on Saturday will react and perform. That’s something we will be looking to do.”

Midfielder Kai Whitmore and forwards Nathan Wood and Luke Jephcott could get chances after coming off the bench at Cheltenham, where goalkeeper Luke Carney and defenders Cameron Evans and Matt Baker were unused substitutes.

County have a strong record in the League Cup even when they have rotated their squad.

They have won their last seven first round fixtures in the tournament going back to the 2016 defeat to Milton Keynes Dons.

Last year County beat League One Charlton 3-1 and in 2022 they stunned Luton, then of the Championship who went on to win promotion to the Premier League, 3-2 at Kenilworth Road.

In 2021 Michael Flynn fielded a second string at Ipswich but they still upset their third-tier hosts while in 2020 a Tristan Abrahams double stunned Swansea behind closed doors at Rodney Parade.

The League Cup doesn’t have big prize money but it could earn a bumper crowd in Newport if they progress, with the Premier League sides not in European competition entering the regionalised second round.

“We have to try to keep our [cup] record and I prepare game by game, making sure I am in a good position to win,” said Jardim. “We will make sure we are there to compete and win.”

County will be forced into at least one change to their matchday squad after losing Hamzad Kargbo to a dislocated shoulder in Cheltenham.

The 6ft 4ins striker had only just come onto the pitch and the blow played a big part in the 10-men Exiles conceding at the death.

Kargbo, who came through at QPR, put himself about in his brief cameo now faces a lengthy lay-off, with dislocated shoulders usually meaning around three months out.

“He had a good impact on the game,” said Jardim. “He is down but the older boys made sure he feels positive.”