Newport County vs Middlesbrough - Newport goalkeeper Day could return for FA Cup replay

Posted Monday, February 04, 2019 by PA

Newport goalkeeper Joe Day is available for the FA Cup fourth-round replay against Middlesbrough at Rodney Parade.

Day missed the first game – a 1-1 draw at the Riverside – as his wife is due to give birth to twins at any time, but he has trained ahead of the replay and could replace Nick Townsend.

Regular starters Dan Butler, Mark O’Brien and Padraig Amond, who were all on the bench for Saturday’s 3-0 Sky Bet League Two defeat at Grimsby, are set to play.

Robbie Willmott (dead leg) and Scot Bennett (virus) are also expected to return after missing the Grimsby game.

Boro boss Tony Pulis will attempt to balance the demands of the FA Cup and his side’s Championship promotion campaign in the second of four games inside 12 days.

Lewis Wing is a doubt after playing through the pain barrier with a groin injury in recent games.

The midfielder will be assessed, although a virus which swept through the club has now abated.

Pulis fielded a strong side in the original tie, including January signing John Obi Mikel, but the replay comes during a run of games against promotion rivals West Brom, Leeds and Sheffield United.