Barry-Murphy unimpressed by timing of Newport tie

Brian Barry-Murphy previously managed in the EFL Trophy while at Rochdale

Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy has criticised the scheduling of Tuesday's Welsh derby encounter with Newport County in the EFL Trophy (19:45 BST).

The Bluebirds will be without a host of players for the group stage game because it falls during an international window.

Dylan Lawlor, Ronan Kpakio, Isaak Davies and Joel and Rubin Colwill are with Wales for Thursday's friendly against England and next Monday's World Cup qualifier against Belgium in Cardiff.

Dakarai Mafico, Tanatswa Nyakuhwa and Luey Giles are away with the Wales Under-21 squad – as is Cian Ashford, though he is suspended for the Newport game anyway - while Alex Robertson has been called up by Australia for friendlies against Canada and the USA.

"It is a unique situation. I have a lot of experience of this competition and I have been a big advocate of the benefits of it," Cardiff head coach Barry-Murphy said.

"But I would say for me it doesn't make any sense that we are playing this game when the players who really would benefit from it – Dak Mafico, Tanatswa Nyakuhwa – are on international duty.

"Even the players below that in the [Cardiff] under-21s… we have loads of players with Wales Under-19s and Under-18s who cannot play. We have to assess who we have available and pick a team."

Cardiff began their EFL Trophy campaign with a 1-0 win at Exeter City last month, when Lawlor, Giles, Mafico, Nyakuhwa and Davies all started and Kpakio and Ashford featured as substitutes.

The Bluebirds now host their near neighbours for the first time since Newport reformed after going out of business in the late 1980s,

While struggling Newport slipped to the bottom of League Two after defeat by Swindon last Saturday, Cardiff are third in League One after their thrilling weekend win over Leyton Orient.

Omari Kellyman's only Cardiff start to date came in the EFL Trophy at Exeter

Barry-Murphy said Cardiff fans "saw glimpses" of what Omari Kellyman can offer against Orient and that the on-loan Chelsea youngster will start against Newport.

He also confirmed Troy Perrett will be involved, while Cardiff could give a senior debut to 16-year-old midfielder Rob Tankiewicz.

"Omari Kellyman needs the fitness and it benefits him to play," Barry-Murphy added.

"But aside from that we will see who is available from the first-team players. It will be a case of who is in need of a game more than others."