Jardim issues challenge to Newport players

Aaron Wildig joined Newport County in June 2022

Newport County head coach Nelson Jardim has called on his players to step up to the challenge in the absence of skipper Aaron Wildig.

Newport face a tough trip to Barrow looking to halt a run of two successive heavy League Two defeats.

And they will be without their talisman and top scorer Wildig, who is ruled out with concussion sustained in last Saturday’s 4-0 defeat at Swindon Town.

Jardim believes it is up to the rest of the squad to help atone for the absence of a natural leader on the pitch, who has netted three goals this term.

The Newport boss said: “We are always going to miss a player like him. He has been great, he has been with us every day, it is just that he won’t be on the grass [at Barrow].

“In terms of of what he gives to everyone, how he pushes everyone and the way he leads by example we are going to miss that.

“But I think it is down to everyone to make sure we don’t miss him as much as we would if we do not do our best. If everyone does a little bit more we will be fine.”

Newport will welcome the return of defender Kyle Jameson from suspension. The centre back had his marching orders after receiving two yellow cards in the 4-1 home defeat by Port Vale.

The Exiles ended that game with nine men, with fellow centre back Ciaran Brennan shown a straight red card and now sitting out the second of his three match ban.

Jardim believes the dismissals were part of a learning curve for his generally young squad.

“It’s a lesson to everyone we all learn from those mistakes, especially on that occasion, it was a bad day at the office. It was a moment which did not help the team,” he said.

Meanwhile Newport’s absentee list may shorten soon with an injured trio nearing fitness.

Club captain and defensive lynchpin James Clarke, midfielder Kai Whitmore and winger Michael Spellman, who has yet to feature for the club, are expected to “return soon” according to Jardim.