Newport derby rather than 'Soccer Ashes' for Tzanev

Newport County goalkeeper Nik Tzanev is poised to play in the Severnside derby against Bristol Rovers rather than the 'Soccer Ashes' with New Zealand against Australia.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed a strong start to life at Rodney Parade after joining from Northampton Town in the summer.

Tzanev has made seven appearances and is likely to make that eight in Saturday's League Two fixture against Rovers at Rodney Parade (12:30 BST).

Regular action meant that the New Zealander was left out of his national squad for the back-to-back games against Australia.

Millwall's Max Crocombe was in goal for the All Whites when they went down 1-0 to Max Balard's 87th-minute winner in Canberra on Friday.

The teams face each other again on Tuesday in Auckland but Tzanev has remained in Wales to try and keep his starting spot ahead of fellow summer signing Jordan Wright.

"The call that we took from New Zealand was that it would be beneficial for him to stay and continue to play games," said Newport manager David Hughes.

"I am really pleased with his progress and he has performed really well, as has Jordan. There is a real competitiveness between them for the start.

"We are pleased that Nik is here and the games that he has played are adding to his progress towards more New Zealand caps."

Newport are without Swansea City loanee Ben Lloyd because the midfielder is on Wales Under-21s duty for Monday's Euro U21 qualifier against Denmark.

Rovers are without Swansea loanee Joel Cotterill because of that Rodney Parade fixture and also Wales Under-19s prospect Ollie Dewsbury, who misses a game with his hometown club.