Newport County midfielder Joss Labadie: No serious injuries have been sustained.
The news that midfielder Joss Labadie’s chronic knee ailment has not returned has given Newport County encouragement.
The 28-year-old midfielder was taken off the pitch after eight minutes of Newport’s Boxing Day 4-1 loss to Forest Green Rovers.
Having undergone surgery to repair cruciate knee ligament damage sustained in March, it was Labadie’s first start for the Exiles, but a scan revealed positive news.
“He should be back in about ten days,” manager Mike Flynn told BBC Sport Wales.
The deal Labadie signed at Rodney Parade in October will keep him there through the conclusion of the current season after it expired at Newport at the end of the previous one.
Before being selected for the starting XI on Boxing Day, his first start since tearing ligaments in training in March, he had made four substitute appearances.
After Newport’s 0-0 draw with Crawley Town, Flynn remarked, “We’ve had the scan and there’s nothing structurally wrong [with his knee],” which is excellent news.
“It’s only some minor swelling from the initial difficulty. I’m hoping he returns as soon as possible.
Bogle’s injury status is updated by the county manager before the start of the season.
According to NEWPORT County AFC manager Graham Coughlan, it would be “suicidal” to put their League Two debut against Accrington on the line with talisman Omar Bogle.
With a quad issue, the striker missed last week’s last friendly match against Cheltenham after suffering a hamstring injury earlier in the preseason.
Bogle, who had 19 goals last season, hasn’t trained this week, so it’s unlikely that he will play at Wham Stadium.
Although Coughlan hasn’t ruled out using the striker, he won’t put their strongest offensive threat at risk at the start of a 46-game league season.
QUESTION: Omar Bogle has not received County training (Photo by the Huw Evans Agency)
“Omar has not trained with us, he has picked up a little niggle,” Coughlan added. “We can throw him out there against Accrington if we want, but I believe that would be’suicidal’.
“We will evaluate him, but I won’t put him at risk – short-term suffering for long-term gain.
Omar simply wants to play and be active on the practise pitch, so if he makes it through a session, I’ll have to decide what to do for Accrington.
“I will need him to convince me more than just once training session,” he said. “If he is smashing balls in and jumping up and down then I will have to make a decision.”
Will Evans, who finished the previous season as a left wing-back, was forced to play up front against Cheltenham due to Bogle’s absence.
The other choices are fellow teenager Seb Palmer-Houlden, who is on loan from Championship club Bristol City, and Kiban Rai, who made his first EFL start in the season finale against Crewe last year.
Palmer-Houlden, who started and scored in the 1-1 friendly tie with Cheltenham, is a young player who Bristol City has assisted us with by sending him over to acquire some experience, although Coughlan cautioned against having high expectations for him.
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