NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn is optimistic that he will be able to keep loan stars Ben White and Shawn McCoulsky beyond January.

McCoulsky’s current loan from Bristol City is due to end in January, while White is on a season-long deal from Brighton & Hove Albion but the Premier League club do have the option of recalling the defender in the New Year.

Flynn has already held discussions with the youngsters’ parent clubs and is hopeful that both players will remain at Rodney Parade until the end of the 2017-2018 campaign.

“I’ll find out more over the next few weeks,” said the Exiles boss.

“I’ll have an answer from Bristol City and Brighton – whether we can extend the loan or keep the loan – and we’ll go from there and I can start honing in on the specific positions I want to strengthen.

“Ben is on a season-long loan but I think if they call him back to go with their first team then there’s nothing we can do.

“And if he does go back and get in their first team then he’ll have my blessing, that’s for sure, but I’m not too sure that will happen.

“I’m optimistic that he’ll stay.

“Obviously I want to keep the boy and I think it will do him a lot more [good] in the long run if he stays here for the rest of the season, has a good break and then he can hit the ground running with Brighton in pre-season.

“It’s down to him then whether he goes out on loan to a Championship club or whether he’s there or thereabouts in the first team squad.

“It will happen sooner rather than later.”

South Wales Argus:

And Flynn insists that striker McCoulsky (above), County’s top scorer on eight goals, and classy defender White would like to stay at the club.

“They’re both really happy here,” he said.

“They’ve both told me that they want to stay and I’ve had good talks with their respective clubs but I’ll never take anything for granted in football.

“Fingers crossed that we do keep hold of them both.”

White confirmed that, as far as he’s concerned, he will be with County for the whole campaign – all the way to the play-off final.

“I’m loving it here and I’m definitely happy to stay,” said the 20-year-old.

“That’s what I’ve been told I’m doing and I’m happy because I’m playing games and I want to help the club get into the play-offs and hopefully get them to League One.”

Asked about his loan spell last month, McCoulsky told the Argus: “It’s gone brilliant from the start.

“The boys have made me feel at home, training is good and on match days I’m scoring so it can’t get better.”

Both White and McCoulsky will hope to keep their starting spots for Saturday’s trip to Accrington Stanley.

But Flynn is without Matty Dolan due to suspension, while fellow midfielder Joss Labadie is still given only a 50-50 chance of playing as he struggles to overcome a hamstring injury.