NEWPORT County AFC manager John Sheridan will be forced into at least one change to his starting XI at Accrington Stanley tomorrow with Tommy O’Sullivan on international duty.

The midfielder, on loan from Cardiff City, linked up with the Wales under-21 squad earlier this week ahead of this afternoon’s UEFA qualifier against Armenia in Bangor (kick-off 2pm).

He will also miss Tuesday’s FA Cup replay against Brackley Town at Rodney Parade as the Welsh youngsters take on Romania in Wrexham.

It’s a blow to Exiles boss Sheridan, who has named an unchanged side for the last five matches.

O’Sullivan has helped County move off the bottom of League Two with two wins and a draw in their last three league games.

The 20-year-old scored his first senior goal in the 4-1 win at Bristol Rovers and has formed an impressive partnership with skipper Mark Byrne in the heart of the team.

His unavailability could give Yan Klukowski a way back into the side, while Aaron Collins, Alex Rodman, Danny Holmes and Seth Nana Twumasi are other options.

But Sheridan is confident that whoever comes in will grab the opportunity to impress.

“Tommy is away but other than that everyone else is fit and available,” said the manager.

“He’s made an impact and he’s been part of a team that has been on a decent run but I feel as if I’ve got plenty there.

“Whoever I bring in will want to try to get a starting place and it’s important that he wants to stay in the team.”

Andrew Hughes returns to the bench after 11 months on the sidelines with a serious knee injury and striker Lenell John-Lewis should be fit after shaking off a thigh problem.

“Everyone is fit,” said Sheridan. “John-Lewis was icing his thigh at half-time in the FA Cup game and I felt comfortable in the game so I could take him off.

“With a thigh injury if it goes you can be out for two months.

“He hasn’t trained all week [up to Thursday] but he’s done all the fitness tests and he’ll be OK for Saturday.

“Nathan Ralph still a bit short,” he added. “He’s been a bit more stop-start than Hughesy and he needs more game time.”