MANAGER Michael Flynn wants his Newport County AFC side to make a “big statement” by beating promotion rivals Colchester United at Rodney Parade today.

The visitors start the day in third place in the League Two table but sixth-placed County are just two points behind the U’s and can leapfrog them with a win this afternoon.

And Flynn is determined to get the better of a squad containing former Exiles stars Frank Nouble, Ryan Jackson and Aaron Collins.

“It’s a big game against a team just above us in the league and we want to overtake them,” said the boss.

“If we win it’s a big statement, but it’s going to be tough.

“They’re very good going forward. They’ve got some really good players.

“Players I know, like Ryan Jackson and Frank Nouble, so it’s going to be tough but I’ve got every faith in the lads to go and get the three points.

“They’ll be up for it. They beat us here last season so it’s a tough game but it’s one I’m looking forward to.”

Nouble, who was target for criticism from some County fans last season, opted to swap Newport for Colchester in the summer after rejecting a new deal to stay at Rodney Parade and Flynn admits he wanted to keep the striker.

“Frank doesn’t like putting roots down anywhere for too long but he was smashing here,” he said. “He was good with the boys and never gave me any trouble.

“He’s a good lad, we keep in touch and after the two times we play them I wish him good luck.

“He had a dip in form [last season] but everybody does. Fans at a lot of clubs have got a horrible habit of singling out one or two players when others do a lot worse.

“You can see why [fans got on his back] at times but I do think he was harshly treated.

“I would have kept him. He would have been a useful asset for us this season but he’s gone and improved Colchester.

“But they’ve got a few good players that we need to worry about, like Courtney Senior and Sammie Szmodics.

“I think Harry Pell is suspended and Luke Norris is out, so that’s good news.

“They’ve got a lot of good players, but so have we.”

On former Exiles academy star Collins, who is on loan at Colchester from Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers, Flynn said: “He’ll be motivated and we’ll have to watch him if he gets on because he’s a talented player.

"Everybody knows that I've got a soft spot for Aaron. I think a lot of him but he's got to start playing regularly now. He's got the ability, he just needs some consistency now.

Cameron Pring is fit to feature in today’s match but County will be without defender Scot Bennett after he suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury in midweek.

Joss Labadie and Andrew Crofts are still not ready to return and Tyler Forbes is out with an inflamed pubic bone.

Jay Foulston and Lewis Collins are also unavailable as they represent Wales under-19s, while Keanu Marsh-Brown is away with the Guyana national team.

Meanwhile, County have been drawn away to Cheltenham Town in the Checkatrade Trophy second round.

The match will be played in the first week of December.