NEWPORT County AFC will welcome back influential midfielder Bryn Morris for today’s home clash with Accrington Stanley.

The 28-year-old started in 56 of 57 games in all competitions last season, but missed the start of this campaign after suffering a tendon issue in his leg during pre-season.

New head coach Nelson Jardim is delighted to have Morris back in contention to face Accrington, as well as forward Oliver Greaves after he recovered from a knee problem.

“We expect to have Bryn Morris and Oliver Greaves back,” said the Portuguese coach. “They are probably ready to be part of the squad.”

After last week’s impressive 3-1 win over Doncaster Rovers, however, both may have to bide their time before they return to the starting XI.

“Everyone at this club has to be patient,” said Jardim. “All the players know that their chance will come, and the ones who are playing know they cannot stop improving. This level of competition within the squad is something I look for because it will improve everyone.

“Bryn has been working hard,” added the head coach. “He looks sharp now. I know how important he is and how important he was in the past. I think the main thing is how important he can be in the future, and I think he will be important.

“He’s an experienced player, a quality player, he knows the league, knows the club and he’s someone who can understand the way that I want to play. That’s great, and he believes in it as well. So I’m really looking forward to seeing him fully fit and helping the team.”

Jardim wants more of the same from his players and the fans at Rodney Parade this afternoon.

“We should not move from what we have been doing,” he said. “We need everyone engaged, we need the fans, and we need to keep pushing.

“It was a good week after last week’s result but after Tuesday the players forgot that win and we’re ready for the next one.

“It was a huge win, the three points keeps us on the right track – building our style and keep improving. But we take every game as it comes and we have to make sure we are at our best in every game, or else we are going to suffer.

“Accrington will be a tough team to beat. They didn’t do as well as they wanted in their first game, but they showed up in their last one. It’s going to be tough, we know that. We have to be at our best to compete.”

Jardim is happy with the threat that his team poses up front, but he would welcome a first clean sheet today.

“We’ve got five goals in two games, and we’ve done it as a team, which is always best,” he said. “The better you do collectively, obviously the strikers will benefit as well.

“It’s also important to get a clean sheet – to have that feeling of keeping our goal down to zero. It’s something that gives us that confidence, that stability, and we are yet to do that.”