NEWPORT COUNTY boss Justin Edinburgh is set to give Exiles fans exactly what they want for Christmas, goalkeeper Joe Day.

The Peterborough United stopper won’t be under your Christmas tree next week, but he should be in goal for the Exiles by the time they play Carlisle United on January 3 according to Edinburgh.

And the Argus can also reveal that Edinburgh is braced to swoop for a defender after seeing Andrew Hughes ruled out for up to a year with an anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

However, Edinburgh has also admitted he could be set to let some players leave as Newport look to consolidate the form that has seen them emerge as serious promotion contenders this term, having lost just once in their last 17 League Two games and unbeaten in nine since the start of October.

However, the news on Day, who excelled for the Exiles during his 93-day loan spell at Rodney Parade, is promising, according to the manager.

“We don’t anticipate any problems with Joe, always it’s a difficult situation when a loan player goes back to his parent club, but I think we are very close on that one,” Edinburgh said.

“We will look to get something tied up in the next few days if we can and the player himself has made it clear he is keen to come here and it’s just about getting the details right.

“We don’t anticipate problems and would hope to have the deal done in time to have Joe involved with our first game in January.”

However, Edinburgh admits things are a less clear in respect of his defenders, with Andrew Hughes out for the season and Curtis Obeng leaving to return to Swansea.

“The injury to Andrew Hughes definitely changes my plans with the defenders, we were in a position of strength with Kevin Feely to come back, but we are now probably a little short,” he said.

“Obviously in the short-term there is nothing to be done, but I think we will certainly look to strengthen our defensive options in January and look to turn a negative into a positive if we can.”

Edinburgh has also backed striker Shaun Jeffers to maintain his fine form as he deputises for Aaron O’Connor’s three-match suspension earned for a red card against Stevenage, County unsuccessful in an appeal against it.

“If I say anything on Aaron I am liable to be charged by the FA, so I’d better keep my thoughts on that to myself,” he said.

“But if you are going to have a player in good form banned for three games, now is the time to do it when the games come thick and fast.

“But again, we look, to the positives and we’ve got Chris Zebroski back from suspension, Rene Howe and Danny Crow back from injury and Shaun Jeffers back from loan, so we have options.

“Shaun has done everything we’ve asked of him. He’s developing his understanding of the tactical side to the game and deserves his chance after a good loan spell.”