Brackley Town vs Newport County - Wilkin waiting on Akintunde news ahead of cup clash

Posted Saturday, November 07, 2015 by PA

Brackley Town manager Kevin Wilkin is hoping Cambridge can follow Oxford's lead in giving his team a further boost for their FA Cup tie against Newport.

On-loan midfielder Aidan Hawtin has been made available by the U's to play in the cup clash, with Wilkin now hoping for similar news on Cambridge forward James Akintunde.

Ahead of the game against Newport, Wilkin said: "Aidan Hawtin, who we've got from Oxford United, should be able to play while we're waiting on Cambridge about James Akintunde. Obviously there's been a change in the management there this week so we'll have to wait and see."

Wilkin is also able to call upon midfielder Richard Batchelor and striker Steve Diggin, the duo returning from suspension after missing last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Chorley in the National League North.

Cardiff duo Tommy O'Sullivan and Jazzi Barnum-Bobb have extended their loan spells at Newport until January and both are eligible for Sunday.

On-loan Aston Villa defender Janoi Donacien also has permission to play in the competition and the 21-year-old, together with O'Sullivan and Barnum-Bobb, should retain his place in the starting line up.

Newport boss John Sheridan may even name an unchanged team but has options in the shape of Danny Holmes, Matt Taylor, Yan Klukowski, Scott Boden and Tom Owen-Evans.

Andrew Hughes (knee) and Nathan Ralph (hamstring) are nearing a return to fitness but are likely to remain out, with Hughes absent from first-team action since last December.