Michael Flynn and his coaching staff have been searching for a solution this week.
Captain Joss Labadie is ruled out by a hamstring injury and Newport County’s manager needs to find a replacement in his squad for the home match against Mansfield Town on Saturday (3pm).
Labadie has been a success in a new midfield attacking role behind the strikers, but he went off after only 15 minutes during the 2-1 home defeat against Colchester United.
Sean Rigg took over, but that didn’t prove to be a seamless switch.
“I wanted Sean to do some of his work further up the pitch because he’s very good on the football and I want him creating and scoring those chances,” said Flynn.
“We haven’t got a like-for-like replacement in that position, but I don’t think many people thought Joss do well in that forward role and he has done.
“Ben Tozer has come in and taken the defensive role that Joss left and now I’ve got to find someone to fill the forward role. We missed Joss against Colchester and it’s unfair for me to think that anyone is going to come on and make the impact that he does.”
Labadie looks certain to be ruled out for several weeks and Flynn says: “
He’s been brilliant. I can’t speak highly enough of him. Since I’ve taken over he’s been first class.”
David Pipe took over the captaincy and looks certain to keep the armband against Mansfield.
Central defender Mark O’Brien is fit and could be recalled to the starting line-up, but new signing Paul Hayes is working to build up his fitness.
Flynn goes head-to-head with Mansfield’s outspoken manager Steve Evans at Rodney Parade on Saturday (3pm).
The controversial Evans, a former Crawley, Leeds and Rotherham manager, will impose his character from the away dug-out, but Flynn says: “I won’t be taking any notice of what Steve Evans does. He’s experienced and he knows what he’s good at.
“He winds up opposition coaches, managers, players, and fair play, if that works for him then good luck.
“But I’m sure he’ll get as good as he gets against our bench and our players. I’m more concerned with what he does with his football teams.
“I get wound up in games, but I don’t think I’ve ever reacted stupidly to an opposition manager. It’s more likely to be one of our players that I have a go at.
“Steve achieves good results and builds good teams. What he does on the side of the pitch is neither here nor there and I’m sure our fans behind the dugout will drown him out anyway.”
Newport County, probable: Day, White, Bennett, Demetriou, Pipe, Tozer, Dolan, Butler, Owen-Evans or Rigg, Nouble, Amond.
