NEWPORT County AFC manager Terry Butcher has thanked Championship clubs Charlton Athletic and Brentford for allowing him to boost his squad on the cheap this week.

Despite having very little left in the playing budget, the Exiles boss has been able to bring in striker Zak Ansah on loan from Charlton and midfielder Josh Laurent from Brentford.

And, ahead of Saturday's home clash with League Two table-toppers Leyton Orient, Butcher says the generosity of the London clubs has provided his squad with a big boost.

“The clubs have allowed us to have their players for little or no money on a month’s deal,” he explained.

“The players will look at us and we’ll have a look at them and see what happens after that.

“At this stage of the season we’re so fortunate that clubs are able to help us out and we really appreciate that.

“Anything you can get for free or near enough for free is very welcome and generally they’re going to be young players.

“But we’re delighted to get Zak and Josh because they’re both boys of excellent quality.

“We’ve been trying to get players in for some time because we know the squad isn’t big enough,” he added.

“It’s not about eyeing up specific targets; players come to you through agents and what we’re looking at when players become available is can we afford them and is their parent club willing to let them go to us for next to nothing?

“Obviously you do your homework on the players and once you see that these players are good, exciting young players that are going to add to the squad then you are interested.

“If the players do well then we can extend it and I think it works well for us, the parent club and the player.

“We’re excited to get two really good young boys coming along, particularly Zak who has played in League Two and scored in League Two.

“And both players expressed a real interest to come here as well, which I think is important.”

Both Ansah and Laurent are in line to make their debuts against Orient, subject to international clearance.

“It is a young squad and I think Josh at 20 and Zak at 21 are probably classed as veterans compared to the others,” added Butcher.

“It adds to the numbers and the competition and I think it’s exciting.”