Newport County have been drawn away to Metropolitan Police in the Emirates FA Cup, but manager Michael Flynn won’t be thinking about that tie just yet.
The Exiles travel to play the Met over the weekend of November 10, but Flynn’s focus is strictly on Tuesday’s League Two trip to Bury.
Police play in Southern League Premier South along with Merthyr Town and the teams drew 2-2 at Penydarren Park earlier this season.
Flynn will surely give Martyrs’ manage Gavin Williams a ring to talk about the Police team, but right now the County team boss is working on ensuring Newport return to their best at Gigg Lane against a Bury team who are three points behind them in the table.
So, we will start our #EmiratesFACup Journey in Surrey when we face @MetPoliceFC. Let's have your reaction to that draw, Exiles! #OurJourneyContinues https://t.co/Vj3wJNzdEU
— Newport County AFC (@NewportCounty) October 22, 2018
County dropped out of the automatic promotion places August after losing 4-1 at Crawley Town.
Mark O’Brien, Tyler Forbes, Matty Dolan, Tyreeq Bakinson, Andrew Crofts, Robbie Willmott and Keanu Marsh-Brown all missed the fixture against Crawley, while Jamille Matt went off with a hip flexor problem.
Matt, who scored his eighth goal of the season, went off as a precaution with Newport already 4-1 down and he could be available at Bury.
Flynn also says he is hopeful ‘two or three’ of the players who missed the match will also be ready to start.
Defender Fraser Franks was sent off an a straight red card at Crawley and faces a three-match suspension, although Newport have been considering an appeal.
Hosts Bury have only lost one of their last nine league matches, won 4-0 against Notts County in their last fixture and pose a formidable test for Flynn’s team.
Manager Ryan Lowe has a virtually full squad to select from for the match at the Energy Check Stadium.
Eoghan O’Connell, who has missed their last four matches because of a hamstring strain, will have a late fitness test.
Former Cardiff City striker Nicky Maynard will lead the Bury attack, having scored four goals in three starts for the Greater Manchester club.
He scored twice against Mansfield and one each against Mansfield and Crewe.
Maynard, 31, made 26 appearances for the Bluebirds between 2012 and 2015, some of those in the Premier League.
He has commanded around £6.4 million in transfer fees during his career and Cardiff paid West Ham £2.5m when they signed Maynard, who has signed a short-term contract with Bury until January
Newport County, possible (4-1-2-3): Day, Pipe, Demetriou (capt), Bennett, Dolan, Butler, Willmott, Sheehan, Semenyo, Matt, Amond.
