NEWPORT County AFC will be forced into changes for Saturday’s trip to Swindon in League Two with Nelson Jardim having defensive headaches.

The Exiles will make the relatively short journey to the County Ground (kick-off 12.30pm) without three central defenders in the injured James Clarke and suspended Ciaran Brennan and Kyle Jameson.

They are also likely to be without influential right wing-back Shane McLoughlin after he was forced off in the opening stages of last weekend’s 4-1 loss to Port Vale.

An update of the Irishman’s calf/knee problem will be given at Jardim’s pre-match press conference on Friday morning.

County have also been without novice right-back Joe Thomas, midfielder Kai Whitmore and winger Michael Spellman through injury but thankfully central defender Matt Baker came through Wales Under-21s’ win in Iceland on Tuesday unscathed.

Jardim admitted he would consider dropping Bryn Morris back from midfield to provide some experience at the heart of defence.

Cardiff prospect Kieron Evans could slot in as an attacking midfielder while his fellow loanees Jamie Miley and Noah Mawene are also back in the mix after missing the loss to the Valiants.

Another option would be a return to a flat back four but that would be a risk with Baker joined by either teenager Nelson Sanca or fellow prospect Josh Seberry, who has been left out of recent matchday squads.

Possible County line-up (5-3-2): Townsend, C Evans, Sanca, Morris, Baker, Glennon, Wildig, Antwi, K Evans, Kamwa, Baker-Richardson.

SWITCH: Former County captain Ryan Delaney signed for Swindon in the summerSWITCH: Former County captain Ryan Delaney signed for Swindon in the summer (Image: Barrington Coombs)

THE OPPOSITION

Swindon are without striker Harry Smith after he was sent off for a viscous elbow in the dramatic 1-1 draw at Barrow last weekend.

Mark Kennedy is yet to taste victory since taking over the reins at the County Ground and they were fortunate to scramble a late draw in Cumbria despite the hosts playing the entire second half with an outfield player, Rory Feely, in goal after the dismissal of ‘keeper Paul Farman.

Danny Butterworth struck deep in added time from distance with a shot that squirmed under Feely.

County have defensive problems and they could come up against their former skipper after Ryan Delaney made the summer move to Swindon.

The Irish central defender missed the start of the campaign while recovering from the knee injury that ended his 2023/24 season early.

Delaney got half an hour in the EFL Trophy defeat to Exeter and then came on in the first half in Barrow.

The Exiles are boosted by the return of a Wales Under-21s international and so are the Robins, who have Joel Cotterill on a season-long loan from Swansea.

The midfielder returns in high spirits after scoring a brace for the Welsh youngsters in Reykjavik.

COUNTY STATS

Leading scorer: Aaron Wildig (3).

Most assists: Antony Glennon, Cameron Antwi, Courtney Baker-Richardson all on one.

League position: Eighth Form guide: LWWWL.

SWINDON STATS

Leading scorer: Daniel Butterworth, Gavin Kilkenny and Will Wright all on one.

Most assists: Miguel Freckleton, Ryan Delaney and Will Wright all on one.

League position: 21st Form guide: DLDLD

MATCH ODDS

Swindon 17/20, County 12/5, draw 13/5

LAST TIME

Swindon took the spoils 2-0 when the sides met in Wiltshire last season thanks to goals by Dan Kemp, after goalkeeper Jon Maxted was caught in no-mans land, and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy.

County got revenge in Newport when Will Evans and Seb Palmer-Houlden struck in a 2-1 success the weekend after the Manchester United FA Cup tie.

League Two fixtures

Thursday - Harrogate v Doncaster; Saturday - AFC Wimbledon v MK Dons, Swindon v Newport County (both 12.30pm), Accrington v Crewe, Bromley v Notts County, Carlisle v Fleetwood, Gillingham v Tranmere, Grimsby v Barrow, Morecambe v Colchester, Port Vale v Chesterfield, Salford v Cheltenham, Walsall v Bradford.