Headline: Newport County Faces Injury Challenges Ahead of Match Against Chesterfield Town
Newport County’s injury challenges escalate as head coach Hayden Mullins announced that Fulham loanee Matt Dibley-Dias will be out due to a hamstring problem.
The Exiles aim to maintain their unbeaten streak at Rodney Parade when they take on Chesterfield Town in League Two on Friday evening at 19:45 GMT.
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Following a 1-0 defeat to Cheltenham Town last Saturday, which marked their first league loss in eight matches, Mullins’ squad prepares to bounce back.
Both winger Yahya Bamba and midfielder Dibley-Dias were substituted during the match at the EV Charger Points Stadium, further complicating County’s injury situation.
“Dibley-Dias has had a scan, and we’re waiting to see the results of that, so he won’t be ready for the weekend,” Mullins stated.
“Yahya has returned to training, but we will assess how he progresses and his readiness for the match.”
The absence of Dibley-Dias and Bamba adds to a growing injury list that includes players such as Christian Doidge, Tanatswa Nyakhuwa, and the key contributor Matty Jacob.
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Additionally, County’s leading goal scorer Shaquille Gwengwe will miss the clash with Chesterfield as he serves a three-match suspension after receiving a red card for an incident during Newport’s draw with York City.
Despite these setbacks, Mullins remains optimistic, claiming his team is in a “good place” ahead of Chesterfield’s arrival.
“While it’s disappointing to be missing several players, it opens the door for others to step up and make a difference,” Mullins remarked.
“The boys have proven their readiness when given the chance and have performed well.”
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The Exiles meet the Spireites, who recently triumphed over high-flying Crewe with an impressive 5-1 victory.
Currently sitting seventh in the standings, Paul Cook’s crew holds a four-point lead over County, who stands at 16th place. Nonetheless, Mullins embraces the challenge ahead.
“We’ll be ready to attack them and look to capitalize on our strengths,” he said.
“We have faith in our group and our game plan.
“We respect the challenges they present. They are a solid team with a capable manager, and I expect they’ll come prepared following their recent success.”
Mullins also called on County fans to rally behind the team as they strive to extend their unbeaten home run under the floodlights at Rodney Parade.
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“Our home support has been fantastic this season, and the atmosphere has been great. We are counting on them once more,” he added.
“We need their support to help us secure a positive result.”
