Video: Richard Dryden explains the Liam Noble situation
Notts County are on the slide after what looked like a revival under Mark Cooper.
They have lost their last three games, which included the embarrassing 5-0 defeat to rivals Mansfield Town.
The Magpies hope they can right a few wrongs in their next game as they make the journey to Rodney Parade where they will take on Newport County on Saturday.
They will however be without star midfielder Liam Noble, who was sent off for serious foul play in the defeat to Cambridge. Noble has been one of the stars of the season for County, scoring ten goals in all competitions.
Earlier in the week he was handed a five-game ban by the Football Association for dangerous play, with his aggression levels again called into question. It is the third time the midfielder has seen red this season.
The ban includes the opening three fixtures of next season.
Mark Cooper has told Noble to stay away from the club until he is ready to deal with him and it was left to assistant manager Richard Dryden to explain the situation
Dryden said: “Where we are with Liam Noble is that he came in to see the manager after the Cambridge game, asked where he was at and we just decided that he just has to stay away from the club until we see fit to speak to him.”
With a drop in results comes a drop in morale and Dryden says the players have needed boosting this week.
“We’ve tried to be a bit more laid back than we have been. Just to make it a little more light-hearted and just see how the lads react,” explained Dryden.
“We’ve picked our 18 men that are going to go down (to Newport) and we’ll pick a side that want to battle and scrap and try and get three points with only two games to go.”
TEAM NEWS:
With Liam Noble out, there will be a fight for a place in midfield alongside Stanley Aborah. Alan Smith, Robert Milsom and Curtis Thompson could come in for the suspended former Sunderland player.
Mike Edwards will be looking to re-earn his place in the back four as well after losing the spot to Mawouna Amevor against Cambridge.
Newport sit in 22nd in SkyBet League Two and their main threat will come through 15-goal striker Scott Boden.
You can hear more from Dryden on Notts TV News tonight at 5.30 and 6pm.
