By Paul Connolly
Former West Bromwich Albion defender Abdoulaye Meite could be handed a debut for Newport County as they travel to Blackpool, on Saturday.
Ivory Coast international Meite signed on non-contract terms on Friday, and is eligible for the trip to Bloomfield Road.
Newport County AFC have signed Abdoulaye Méïté on non contract terms ahead of tomorrow's game at Blackpool. Méïté will wear the number 40. pic.twitter.com/QH2VCjR64i
— Newport County AFC (@NewportCounty) November 25, 2016
County can move out of the League Two relegation places with a win on Saturday, but face a tough due to a large absentees list.
Manager Graham Westley this week bemoaned his lack of attacking options, with a number of players currently injured.
Strikers Jon Parkin, Reece Grego-Cox, Jordan Green and Marlon Jackson have all been out of action in recent weeks, with fellow forward Lenell John-Lewis not featuring since pre-season.
Defenders Jamie Turley and Kyle Cameron will also sit out through injury, whilst Paul Bignot will watch from the sidelines due to suspension.
Westley, however, will be hoping his injury woes are eased by the return of Mark Randall.
Randall, who has missed the last month due to a hamstring injury, featured in the closing stages of the midweek defeat to Wycombe Wanderers.
Blackpool sit in tenth in the league, just two points off the play-off places but suffered a late 1-0 defeat midweek at the hands of Mansfield Town.
The defeat was the Tangerines’ first in seven matches and saw them drop out of the play-off places.
In-form striker Kyle Vassell missed the trip to the One Call Stadium but boss Gary Bowyer expects him to the fit for the visit of Newport.
Bowyer told BBC Radio Lancashire: “We’re very hopeful for him to be playing on Saturday and picking up the form that he had, before missing out on Tuesday.”
Vassell has netted on ten occasions this term and has struck up an effective partnership with Jamille Matt, who had scored in three successive matches before the midweek defeat.
Goalkeeper Dean Lyness is expected to resume training for Bowyer’s men on Monday, following an ankle injury which has ruled him out since mid-October.
Forward Jack Redshaw will join Lyness on the sidelines, as he recovers from shin splints.