DARREN Jones will take over as Newport County AFC captain for Saturday’s FA Cup trip to Luton Town - and he could keep the armband permanently.

Regular skipper Andy Sandell is suspended for the first round tie at Kenilworth Road after being sent off in the 2-2 draw at Hartlepool United.

The red card cost County dear as the ten men squandered a 2-0 lead after Sandell’s dismissal for wrestling with Pools player Scott Harrison.

The one-game ban will be Sandell’s second suspension of the campaign – he also missed the 3-1 League Two victory over York City last month after picking up five yellow cards.

And the 31-year-old, who was appointed as captain in the summer, was also dropped after a poor start to the season.

Following a fourth straight defeat at Mansfield Town in August, Sandell lost his place in the starting XI for four matches before returning for the 0-0 draw at Tranmere Rovers in September.

Manager Justin Edinburgh showed last season that he was not afraid to jettison his captain as David Pipe found himself out in the cold before being released in the summer.

And, having already demonstrated his ruthless streak this campaign where Sandell is concerned, the Exiles boss may well have had his patience stretched to breaking point by his skipper in Hartlepool.

After the match at Victoria Park, Edinburgh was in no mood to leap to the defence of his captain.

“When he’s [Sandell] already on a yellow card to get involved in a confrontation is disappointing and it really changes the complexion of the game,” he said.

“We didn’t expect it from the captain, but these things happen.

“We were left in a position where after one yellow, it’s a second yellow to come. They were wrestling and it’s a second yellow.

“He’s been booked; it’s the only decision the ref has had to make.”

Meanwhile the Exiles are in talks with Charlton Athletic to ensure that striker Joe Pigott is eligible to play at Luton in the cup.

Pigott, who is on loan from the Championship club until November 22, scored a spectacular equaliser in his last appearance to earn a 1-1 draw against Accrington Stanley at Rodney Parade on October 25.

The 20-year-old missed the Hartlepool clash due to illness but should be fit to face the Hatters if he is cleared to play.

Fellow loan stars James Loveridge, Curtis Obeng and Scott Tancock, all from Swansea City, and goalkeeper Joe Day from Peterborough United have all been cleared to take part by their parent clubs.