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Newport County left-back Adam Lewis will be sidelined until the New Year.

Lewis' injury is another blow to manager Graham Coughlan as he copes with a "hurricane" of fitness problems.

The 23-year-old Liverpool loanee is likely to return to his Premier League parent club for rehabilitation on a thigh injury, having also had his loan curtailed last term because of fitness.

"It's a similar injury but on the opposite side to last season," Coughlan said.

"It' s a really bad one and a tough one to take."

Coughlan was forced to name a six-man bench for the 2-1 League Two win over Colchester United on Tuesday.

He hopes Declan Drysdale recovers from a leg injury sustained in that victory in time for Saturday's home encounter with Harrogate Town. Defender Matt Baker is also on the comeback trail.

But with James Clarke, Kyle Jameson, Harry Charsley, Seb Palmer-Houlden and Offrande Zanzala all out with longer term problems, Coughlan admitted: "We are in the middle of a hurricane.

"We are out in the ocean in our dinghy and the waves are battering us. We just need to ride the wave to try and get these lads healthy and fit. If we can come out the other end I am sure we will be fine."

He added: "It's one of those things. The lads do everything, they are tip-top when it comes to strength and conditioning, pre-hab, warm ups and warm downs, they are well conditioned, they are well looked after.

"It's just probably our time for a spate of injuries, our time for bad luck and our time to be in this situation. I don't like to use that as an excuse, because any club up and down the country will find themselves in a situation similar to ourselves."

Meanwhile, Coughlan has had his first meeting with former Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins, whose takeover of the club is in the process of going through after the Newport County Supporters' Trust overwhelmingly accepted his £500,000 offer for a 52% stake.

The takeover is now awaiting Football League approval.

Coughlan invited Jenkins down to the training ground and said: "I have met Huw and have had a chat with him.

"He seems a very nice positive man and we are just waiting until the ink is dry and it's all made official.

"Then I am sure I will be able to sit and get involved a little bit more and try to enjoy it a little bit more.

"But until it's official I am probably best off concentrating on the grass."