Duo boost Pompey as boss talks up Newport's hopes
Wednesday, 22nd Mar 2017 21:52 by pompey-fans.com staff

Kyle Bennett and Kal Naismith could be back in the Pompey squad at the weekend - and that looks set to spell the end of the brief 3-5-2 experiment.

The duo missed the 3-0 defeat at Stevenage, forcing Paul Cook into switches that made him go with a three-at-the-back arrangement that was not successful.

Bennett's ankle problem and Naismith's hamstring niggle are still being monitored but The News is reporting that both could be okay for the Fratton Park encounter with Newport County.

The paper says Bennett is responding well to treatment on his turned ankle, although has to return to full training and Naismith’s hamstring is believed to be strained rather than torn, which represents encouraging news.

Pompey will be without Christian Burgess following his red card at the Lamex, with Tom Davies likely to deputise alongside Matt Clarke.

Meanwhile Newport boss Mike Flynn is looking forward to his relegation strugglers' visit to Fratton. He told the NCFC website: 'We’ve gone there for the last three years and won. I’m confident and I believe in the players. The fight they have shown me and the chances they are creating now is very encouraging. I’m hoping the boys go and enjoy themselves on a great pitch.

“I remember being at other clubs when near or around the top and playing the bottom clubs was always a hard game because they’re always fighting for their lives. I think we’ve picked up in the last few games and I can’t see why we can’t go there and give them a good game. At the end of the day, anybody can beat anybody in this league.”