NEWPORT County AFC have received a big boost ahead of Saturday's trip to Plymouth Argyle with the news that striker Lenell John-Lewis and midfielder Alex Rodman have both returned to fitness.

John-Lewis has been sidelined with a hamstring strain picked up in the opening day defeat at Cambridge United on August 8.

Alex Rodman also sustained an injury in that match but played in the Capital One Cup loss at Wolverhampton Wanderers three days later before missing the last three matches with a calf problem.

But both have returned to training this week and Exiles boss Terry Butcher is hopeful that they will be available to play some part at Home Park on Saturday as his side seek their first win of the season.

Butcher said: "Alex Rodman and Lenell John-Lewis are back in full training, Nathan Ralph is not far away and we’ve had Andrew Hughes joining in training as well.

"He’s still quite a way away but it’s good to see him about.

"So there’s less in the treatment room than there have been before and that’s a boost for everyone."

On John-Lewis and Rodman's availability for Saturday he added: "I’d like them to get at least a full week of training under their belt but we’ll have to wait and see.

"It’s nice to have them back because they were a part of the first game and they’ve always been pencilled into my team.

"When you’ve got quality like that you do miss it but the rest of the players have been fantastic.

"I want to get to a point where I’ve got tough decisions to make. It isn’t that difficult to pick the team at the moment and you want competition for places and options."