STRIKER Rhys Healey could be in line for his first start for Newport County AFC after scoring for the reserves in midweek.

The Exiles take on Cambridge United at Rodney Parade on Saturday and manager Warren Feeney is considering giving Healey a chance to show what he can do from the start.

The striker, on loan from Cardiff City, impressed as a substitute in last week’s defeat at Doncaster Rovers and netted in Tuesday’s reserve match in Portsmouth.

Jon Parkin also picked up a bang on his foot in that match and is a doubt for Saturday after missing training on Wednesday.

“Rhys has got a chance of playing,” said Feeney. “It was important to get him 60 minutes.

“I thought he did very well last week and there’s a possibility that he’ll be involved on Saturday.”

Defenders Jamie Turley and Darren Jones are also carrying knocks but Feeney expects them to be fit to face Cambridge.

Midfielder Joss Labadie is likely to miss out, however, after being forced off at Doncaster.

“Joss is probably ruled out,” added the Exiles boss. “He’s got a tweak in his hamstring and it’s probably a little too early for him.”

Whoever plays, the pressure is on to get a win against the side lying bottom of the League Two table.

County are currently 22nd with just one win to their name but Feeney insists he’s not concerned by what he’s seen from his side so far this season.

“It doesn’t faze me at all,” he said. “I know it’s going to turn – we’ve a game in hand and if we get back-to-back wins we’ll be right up there.

“I’m not worried at all. If I thought the players weren’t good enough I’d hold my hands up.

“We want to get the season going and hopefully we’ll do that on Saturday.

“Last season we were sitting on two points [at this stage] so we are progressing,” he added.

“We’ve got to cut the mistakes out but I think we’ve been playing some very good football.

“There’s good energy there, we’re creating chances and no one is cutting us open but we’re giving teams goals and that’s what we’ve got to stop.”

Feeney knows his team need to avoid conceding the first goal – as they have done for six out of seven league games so far.

“We are trying and the boys are hurting,” he said. “They do care.

“I think we’re top of the league for the most comebacks and people say that’s great character but I want to get goals in front. We want to take the lead in games.

“The goals that we’re giving away are mistakes and you can go through this and through that but once you cross the white line you’ve got to cut the errors out and concentrate for 90 minutes.”