NEWPORT County’s youth team players will have at least 26 reasons to give the performance of their lives tomorrow night, insists coach Mike Flynn.

The Exiles take on Milton Keynes in the second round of the FA Youth Cup at Rodney Parade (kick-off 7pm) knowing that they’ve already gone one step further than any other age grade County squad since 2000.

And with the winners of tonight’s contest primed for a trip to Nottingham Forest and the City Ground, motivation shouldn’t be an issue for the Newport players.

However, Flynn, who took a duel coaching/playing role on for this term, admits there is a second motivator for his charges.

“So far we’ve had confirmation that there will be 25 scouts there tomorrow night from the Premier League and the Football League,” the ex-Wigan midfielder confirmed.

“That should be a hell of a motivation for the boys, but there is one person coming to watch who is even more important and that is Justin Edinburgh.

“The gaffer is coming, Jimmy Dack is coming and there will be a load of scouts, so it’s a big pressure environment for the boys, but I think they will be up to it.

“These are the kind of opportunities that come around quite rarely for youth level players and I want to see them snatch it with both hands.”

Flynn has no new injury worries among his group and has confirmed that the three youth players in the first team squad this season – Regan Poole, Tom Owen-Evans and Aaron Collins – will all start.

And with Newport’s first team having just enjoyed their biggest crowd of the season against Exeter, Flynn is hopeful many of them can be tempted back tonight.

“Ideally we would love to have a decent support, I am certain a lot of our fans will be interested in seeing the next generation that are going to be pulling on the amber shirts,” he said.

Flynn feels the Exiles can upset the League One high-flyers if they can improve on their defensive frailties.

“MK Dons are a good footballing side, they keep possession well and can break quickly on you,” he said.

“But if we defend as we have at times recently, we are going to get punished by them and the players know that.

“If we can cut out the mistakes and keep it tight and look to play our own game, we believe we can get a result.”

Flynn also issued a note of caution to his players, or more accurately, a giant dose of reality.

“How many of these players are going to make it as professionals? Certainly not all of them, that’s a sad reality,” he said.

“So for some of the boys, this cup run will be the highest stage they ever play at. They all need to seize the day.”

  •  Tickets for tomorrow’s game are £5 for adults and £1 for U16s.
  •  For live coverage of Newport County v MK Dons in the FA Youth Cup, follow along with us on Twitter via @argusoncounty or Andrew Penman’s live blog on this website.