NEWPORT County AFC manager Graham Westley has revealed that coach Michael Flynn will be a part of his playing squad for the rest of the season but he was not prepared to answer questions about Ben Tozer.

Flynn, who last pulled on a County shirt in May 2015, has re-registered as a player after persuading Westley that he could help in the fight against relegation.

The 36-year-old midfielder was an unused substitute as the Exiles drew 1-1 with promotion-chasing Colchester United at Rodney Parade today.

Westley explained: “Flynny, since I’ve been here, has said to me ‘gaffer, I honestly believe if I get myself fit and shed a few pounds I still think I can do a job in League Two’.

“He’s played at a much higher level and he wouldn’t put himself on offer if he felt he couldn’t.

“We’ve got problems in the middle of the park – we’ve got [Sean] Rigg out, we’ve got [Joss] Labadie out – and he’s prepared to go in there for 15 or 20 minutes here or there if we need him to add a bit of experience and knowhow.”

Westley revealed that Flynn has been preparing to come out of retirement for months.

“He’s got himself right, he’s lost weight, he’s built on his fitness, he’s played in the reserves and Michael Flynn is a player I know if I put him on the pitch I could trust,” said the Exiles boss.

“He’s talked about with me since I came here. He’s said ‘I would love to play in your side, I think I can play as a player-coach and add certain experienced ingredients at times’.

“We’ve been working on his fitness, he’s been shedding the pounds and he played in the reserves and did very well in midweek.

“I had no hesitation to stick him on the bench and I would have trusted him if he had to go on.

“He’s here to play and contribute to the football club in whatever way [he can,” he added.

“He’s not knocked on the door and said ‘let me have extra money for playing’, he’s said ‘let me contribute, let me do everything I can to help the club to move forward’.

“That’s the commitment he’s got to the football club, which is first class.”

South Wales Argus:

When asked if the absence of Tozer (above) from the match day squad was also a factor in Flynn’s return to the bench, Westley said: “No, Flynny was on the bench because he’s been getting himself right and he was selected to be there.

“Credit today to Mark Randall, who’s been on his [sick] bed for the last three days and he came off exhausted in the end.

“His legs ran out but credit to him for getting off his sick bed and putting himself on offer and going out and showing commitment to the football club.”

Asked by the Argus if Tozer, who has been a first-team regular, was injured, he added: “You’ve got a wonderful habit of looking for something. Ben Tozer wasn’t on the pitch today.

“I watched 18 players get together, fight for the football club and put in a strong, resilient, determined performance, earn a good point and we’re talking about someone who wasn’t out there.

“I’m here to talk about the game and the players that were on the pitch.

“I’m not here to talk about Finlay Wood, who wasn’t out there, or Ben Tozer or any other player who wasn’t out there.

“It’s about the 18 that turned up and did a shift for the football club and gave a commitment that stopped the losing run, stopped the rot and put us on the front foot with a point, which is a better place than where we were at 3pm.”