Graham Coughlan: Newport County will struggle to field a team in EFL Trophy

Declan Drysdale has made 11 Newport appearances this season

Graham Coughlan says he will struggle to field a team in Tuesday's EFL Trophy tie against Bristol Rovers after Declan Drysdale and Aaron Wildig joined Newport County's lengthy injury list.

Defender Drysdale, 23, is out for up to 10 weeks with a hamstring problem.

Wildig, 31, has back and hamstring issues with Coughlan saying the midfielder "needs to get attention".

"I just don't know what we can get out on Tuesday night," said the Exiles boss.

"It's no exaggeration - we may not be able to field a team on Tuesday night. We will do our best, we will put out the best possible team."

League Two Newport were already without the likes of Josh Seberry, Adam Lewis, James Clarke, Kyle Jameson, Harry Charsley, Seb Palmer-Houlden and Offrande Zanzala.

Coughlan named only five players on the bench for Saturday's goalless draw with MK Dons, and they included academy teenagers Alfie Young and Nelson Sanca.

"If anybody didn't know how difficult the job is, just look at my bench," Coughlan said.

"We need to get healthy. We can't do Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday - we can't go along with the squad we have got.

"But I will stand up and I guarantee you this dressing room - we'll come through this period, we'll come out of fighting and when we get healthy, we'll be much stronger."

Centre-back Matt Baker started against MK Dons, but will be absent this week as he is on Wales Under-21s duty, although goalkeeper Nick Townsend has opted not to join up with Antigua & Barbuda despite being called up.

"With the injuries, me going away would let the team down," Townsend said.

"I feel like we are putting a run together and I don't think it's beneficial for me to go. I feel like I need to stay here and support the lads."

Forward Kiban Rai was not fit to face MK Dons, although Coughlan said the 18-year-old had also "let himself down discipline-wise".

"He decided to have a couple of days off, on Sunday and Monday, with the rest of the lads when he was injured, and you don't do that," Coughlan added.

"Yes he's a young lad, but he needs to learn."

Newport, who are 20th in the fourth tier, return to league action at Mansfield on Saturday, 18 November.