MICHAEL Flynn will be without four players for Saturday’s trip to Forest Green Rovers but he’s hopeful that key trio Joss Labadie, Mark O’Brien and David Pipe will be fit to play.

The Newport County AFC manager has confirmed that left-back Calaum Jahraldo-Martin will miss the League Two clash at The New Lawn after picking up a hamstring injury in Tuesday’s Checkatrade Trophy defeat to Swansea City under-21s.

Striker Marlon Jackson is still sidelined with his own hamstring problem and Robbie Willmott’s knee injury is likely to keep him out again.

Goalkeeping coach and reserve goalkeeper James Bittner serves the second match of his two-game touchline ban for being sent off from the bench at Crawley Town last month, which means he cannot be named amongst the substitutes.

But Joe Quigley returns from international duty with the Republic of Ireland under-21s and Flynn is optimistic on the chances of Labadie, O’Brien and Pipe returning after all three missed the midweek match.

“We’ll give them as much time as possible,” said Flynn.

“Calaum is out. I think when you pull up like that with a hamstring, even if it’s severe cramp, it usually damages enough fibres to rule you out for a week or so.

“So Calaum is out, Marlon is out and Robbie is probably going to be out.

“I’ll make a decision on the rest closer to the game.

“Ben White is fine. It’s just David Pipe, Mark O’Brien and Joss Labadie.

“Labs has a bit of a stiff groin but I’m pretty certain he’ll be fine.”

Flynn hinted that Labadie could continue in the more advanced role that saw him score in last Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Yeovil Town.

“I know he’s got those qualities,” said the Exiles boss. “If he’s honest he would have been disappointed not to have a hat-trick but I thought he was outstanding.

“He led by example and got in some really good positions. He enjoyed it so why wouldn’t I look at that again if it worked well?”

What is clear is that Flynn, who turns 37 on Tuesday, will not be on the bench on Saturday after he was mistakenly listed amongst the substitutes against Swansea.

“I didn’t name myself on the bench,” he explained. “It was a mistake by our apprentice media man Ben. I definitely wasn’t on the bench.”