Fleetwood pushing for a Town start

The 25-year-old has been relegated to the bench in recent weeks, but has rediscovered his goalscoring form in the last two matches with two excellent strikes against Kettering.

After netting in the FA Trophy clash with Swindon Supermarine, Fleetwood now has three in four games and seven for the season.

Manager Gary Brabin said: “Stuart has always been in my thoughts for the game. I thought he was fighting his game a little bit as he had a fantastic start when he first came in.

“He’s a real confidence player and we all know what he’s capable of as he’s a real goal threat.

“You always feel comfortable when you’re on top that Stuart’s going to get you a goal. He’s always been in my forethoughts and the way we’ve used him is to help Stuart build a bit more confidence.

“Hopefully that has happened after he scored a couple of goals and he’ll be pushing for a place like the rest of them.”

Top goalscorer Amari Morgan-Smith misses out once more, but Danny Crow and Dan Gleeson, who were both absent from the trip to Kettering on Sunday, should be fit to return as Brabin continued: “Amari had a set back, but he’s back in light training and we need to be careful he doesn’t get any reocurrences.

“It has been a worrying concern, but it’s something that we’re confidnt we can get right and get him back involved in the squad.

“They’re (Gleeson and Crow) all back in training and at moment it looks like touch wood they are all okay.”

County travel to Kenilworth Road in 20th position, just one place above the relegation zone after they were beaten by bottom side Bath City in their previous outing.

Luton were 1-0 winners at the Welsh side recently too and Brabin continued: “Like most teams, Newport have had a big change around, management and squad.

“They’re going to come down and it’s going to be their biggest game. I’m sure they’re up for it, but we meet that head on every game.

“We’ve just got to keep focusing on things we’re doing right and keep that consistency going.

“The lads have given us what we want in the last few games, but there’s no point just doing that for three games. We’ve got to carry that on certainly for the fourth game and then after that, we’ve got to be looking at the fifth game.”

Town have a great chance to claw back some points on the top two as well this weekend, with both Wrexham and Fleetwood involved in the FA Cup third round against Brighton and Blackpool respectively.

Brabin said: “We’re back in a decent position in the table and it’s a chance to claw back some points.

“How far we are behind the front two, that is disappointing, there’s no getting away from that, but we have to keep winning football matches.”

Town’s rearguard has impressed in recent matches too, letting in just one in three games and that was a deflection from skipper George Pilkington, with boss Brabin relieved to be be able to field a settled back four.

He added: “It was difficult at the start of the season when we had to reshuffle the whole of the back four, because of situations.

“George Pilkington has come back in and been getting better and better and will be the first to admit it’s taken him time to get back to his best form.

“Dan Gleeson has only just come back fit and looks like he’s never been away.

“We’ve got Janos back at the club and he’s been a real rock at the back. Greg (Taylor) has come in and I’m sure everyone knows what he’s capable of in the last few games.

“We’ve still got Curtis (Osano) as well and he’s a young player and certainly has got a lot more to offer than what he’s shown.

“I would ask the people who aren’t too keen on Curtis just to stick by him. He’s a young lad, got a lot of talent and hes certainly one for the future as well.”

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