Newport fears over McLoughlin fitness

Newport County are hoping captain Shane McLoughlin has avoided a recurrence of the knee injury that has already cost him two months of the season.

McLoughlin, 27, limped off in the final stages of County's 2-1 defeat by AFC Wimbledon on Thursday night.

Head coach Nelson Jardim said the defender hyper-extended his knee – the same issue that led to his last lay-off and an injury that left the Irishman fearing the worst.

McLoughlin avoided surgery on that occasion and Jardim will now wait for assessments, hoping that his precautionary withdrawal does not turn out to be a serious blow to the player and team.

The Exiles – with just one win in ten league games – have already lost regular skipper Aaron Wildig for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

And Jardim said: "It's never good when you lose your captain; we have lost him before, we lost Aaron Wildig, so it's something we have to deal with and find solutions. We will assess and see from there."