NEWPORT County AFC are facing the prospect of being without skipper Joss Labadie and defender Mark O’Brien for the second game running at Morecambe on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Captain Labadie is struggling with a groin strain picked up just before half-time against Wycombe Wanderers last Saturday.

The midfielder, who suffered hamstring problems last term, had featured in all bar one of County’s games this term until he was struck down during the weekend’s 0-0 draw.

Great escape hero O’Brien has been nursing a bruised foot which he sustained prior to the Chairboys stalemate.

He seemed in good spirits at Rodney Parade on Tuesday night as fellow Irishman Padraig Amond scored County’s winner in their 1-0 victory over Cheltenham Town.

Exiles boss Michael Flynn said he will be making a late decision on one of them tomorrow.

However, Flynn did state that strikers Lamar Reynolds and Shawn McCoulsky are definitely in contention for the League Two encounter in Lancashire.

Reynolds returned to the matchday squad on Tuesday following a spell out due to a thigh injury but Flynn wasn’t going to risk him off the bench.

McCoulsky, who has three goals to his name this season, hasn’t played since the Carabao Cup tie at Leeds United because of a hip flexor problem.

Asked if Morecambe comes too soon for Labadie and O’Brien, Flynn said: “Probably. I’ll probably make a late decision on one of them on Friday.

“It’s not looking great at the moment but we managed to get the win on Tuesday without the both of them.

“Joss went off in the first half on Saturday and I thought we missed him because he has been exceptional this season.

“It’s (picking up injuries) part and parcel of the game. Joss looks after himself and he’s a good professional.

“He’s played a lot of minutes and it’s unfortunate but I’m hoping it’s not such a long one.

“We’ve got a squad of players and somebody has got to step in now and try and keep the shirt and fill his boots.”

He added: “I think it’s too early for a few of them but I’m almost certain that Lamar and Shawn will be back, so there’s two back into the squad.

“I know Lamar was on the bench on Tuesday but I just thought that with Frank’s (Nouble) presence it was almost a case of giving Lamar that extra bit of time.

“Frank was carrying a niggle as well so fair play to him, he played the game with half an injury and still put in a good shift and caused them problems.

“That’s the kind of team ethics we’ve got here now, people really want to be out on that pitch and it’s pleasing for me to see.

“I don’t want to risk any players’ fitness for the sake of 20 minutes when next weekend they might be right to play a half or start a game.

“For that little gamble they might be out for six weeks again.

“With a squad as small as ours it’s something that you’ve got to be mindful of and wrap them up in cotton wool and make sure they’re 100 per cent, otherwise you don’t get the best out of them because they’re thinking about it.”