MANAGER Steve Castle is anticipating a difficult fixture away at Welsh outfit Newport County on Saturday. County have won just once this season and sit below the Saints in the Blue Square South table. The City manager said: Newport is a tough place to go

MANAGER Steve Castle is anticipating a difficult fixture away at Welsh outfit Newport County on Saturday. County have won just once this season and sit below the Saints in the Blue Square South table. The City manager said: "Newport is a tough place to go. They are a big, strong team and organised. If it continues for us the way it has been we are going to have change things somewhere along the line.

"Two weeks ago we were drooling over a 5-0 and a performance where everyone made the right choices. This time (against Thurrock) I cannot think of a shot Simon Martin had or a real shot that Gary Cohen has had."

Winger Rod Hicks and striker Paul Hakim are pushing for recalls to the side after injury. Hicks has been out since he was forced off in the first half against Chelmsford while Hakim has been suffering with a calf problem.

If Hakim is given the all clear he will partner either Simon Martin or Gary Cohen in attack. Cohen made his second successive start for City on Saturday and the speedy forward worked hard without really having any genuine efforts on goal. Castle said: "Gary has been out for two years and we have got to be patient. I think at the moment half-an-hour or half a game will be his maximum impact level when defenders get tired and he can really exploit things as shown in previous games. We have had three fit strikers or should I say two fit strikers and Lee Clarke.