Sheehan a doubt but Cuthbert could return for Newport trip

Defender Alan Sheehan faces a late fitness test to see if he will be available to feature against Newport County tomorrow.
Hatters defender Alan Sheehan suffers his shoulder injury against ExeterHatters defender Alan Sheehan suffers his shoulder injury against Exeter
Hatters defender Alan Sheehan suffers his shoulder injury against Exeter

The 30-year-old, who has played in central defence with Glen Rea for the last two matches, picked up a shoulder injury during the second half of Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Exeter City.

He soldiered on manfully, but when asked about his chances of being available for the trip to Wales, Jones said: “We’re going to have to assess him. He’s a warrior Sheez so he’s not going to want to miss the game and we’ll know more about that in the morning

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“They’ve (Sheehan and Rea) done really well. They enjoy playing there, they’re good mates, they’re as dull as each other, but close and that helps when you gave a centre half partnership, you can play off each other.”

However, there could be a shock return for club captain Scott Cuthbert who had been expected to miss the next few games after tweaking his hamstring in the 2-0 defeat to Stevenage recently.

With Johnny Mullins available too, Jones continued: “Scott’s back training, so we’re hopeful of him being available

“We’re going to need warriors tomorrow and Scott’s one of those, so the more of those we can get on the pitch the better.

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“They’ve all made good recoveries from Saturday, so we should have not far off a full squad to choose from. We’re going to need our players, especially our experienced ones on Tuesday.”

However, the game comes too early for full back Dan Potts, who went off last Tuesday against Carlisle United with a head injury, as Jones said: “He’s not available, he’s had a bang on the head last week, he’s still not feeling 100 per cent. You can’t risk that as there’s so many protocol now that we would want to take shortcuts on those.”

Winger Luke Gambin is out on international duty, but Jones admitted it was a major doubt he would have figured the Exiles’ notoriously bad playing surface, saying: “I doubt in any way shape or form Luke would have featured tomorrow anyway, because he might have drowned more than anything!

“We’ll miss Luke and we’ll miss him on the weekend, but there’s no way he would have featured.”

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On how Gambin has done since arriving from Barnet in the transfer window, Jones added: “It will take time for him to settle as we play a totally different way to what he’s used to.

“You see him on Saturday, he drifted out wide and was a threat when he did that.

“We don’t play him there, so he has to learn the position and the physicality that we ask him to do.

“So it will take a little bit of time, but he’s impacted, he’s brave, gets on the ball and we’re delighted with him and with his size, he’s got great, great character, so we’re happy with that.”

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