NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn has admitted he will make changes for tonight’s Checkatrade Trophy clash at Swindon Town but he insists he is taking the competition seriously.

County crashed out of the Carabao Cup last month when Flynn made five changes for the home tie against Oxford United and saw his side beaten 3-0 at Rodney Parade.

But he is set to ring the changes again for this evening’s trip to Swindon in the Trophy after a gruelling League Two victory at Oldham Athletic on Saturday.

“There are players that need games and there are players who are dead on their feet,” said the Exiles boss.

“It would be suicide to play them and it wouldn’t be fair to them because there’s one or two of them who are close to having an injury.

“To play them on Tuesday night would be very selfish and stupid of me, and I’m neither of them.”

But Flynn is adamant that he will pick a team that he thinks can win tonight.

“I take every competition seriously,” he said. “I took the Carabao Cup seriously. We played against a team who are a league above us and I made a couple of changes.

“A few of those boys played when we won at Cambridge so it wasn’t a weakened team to me.

“The thing with the Carabao Cup is that there is no prize money until the semi-finals so you’re relying on the luck of the draw.

“With the Checkatrade Trophy there is prize money for each game.

“I wish we weren’t relying on £10,000 to boost the coffers but I’ll have to see what they [the board] prefer – a cup run and some money in the bank or staying at the top of the table.

“It’s a tough balance to strike and I’ll always do what’s best for the football club.

“But I’ll be picking a team that I think can go and win. It’s not like I’m going to put six youth-teamers in. It’ll be a team I think can go and beat Swindon.”