NEWPORT County AFC defender Ryan Inniss has been charged by the Football Association following an alleged biting offence in Wednesday's Leasing.com Trophy defeat by West Ham United under-21s.

Inniss faces a three-match ban after he was sent off in the 5-4 loss at Rodney Parade.

But the punishment could increase if he is found to have bitten Hammers youngster Reece Hannam.

Inniss,  on loan from Premier League side Crystal Palace, has until 6pm next Tuesday to respond and can play when County host Port Vale tomorrow.

"It is alleged that his behaviour in or around the 90th minute constitutes violent conduct, in circumstances where the standard punishment that would otherwise apply is clearly insufficient," The FA said.

Speaking this morning, Exiles boss Michael Flynn said: “I’m still waiting on the referee’s report.

“That’s it at the minute, there’s not too much I can say on it.

“I’ve spoken to Ryan and West Ham and things were okay at that end.

"West Ham haven't complained which is positive.

“Until I get the referee’s report, I don’t want to say anything because although he was sent off it was for intent, so that’s all I know.”

Flynn hopes to have strikers Tristan Abrahams, Jamille Matt and Padraig Amond available for tomorrow's game.

Matt and Amond sat out the West Ham tie and Abrahams, who netted County’s first in midweek, came off 21 minutes in with a hamstring problem.

Striker Dominic Poleon, who celebrates his 26th birthday tomorrow, is available after joining on transfer deadline day following his departure from Crawley Town.

“Tristan’s fine. Jamille should be alright. Dominic will be available,” added Flynn, who says he could still make a few alterations to his squad.

“I’ll address it next week and we’ll have a look at how the injury list is, and hopefully I’ll get one or two out as well.

“I am happy with what I’ve got and once everybody is fit and raring to go then we’ve got arguably the best squad Newport’s had.”

Vale have lost just once in the league this season and sit three points behind second-placed County.

Flynn said: “It will be a really tough game.

"They’ve improved a lot and are a tough opponent, whether it’s home or away.

“It’s is going to be a really difficult afternoon and we’ve got to make sure we’re at it, and we’ve got to take our chances because they are very good going forward.”

Vale manager John Askey believes it's a good time to be playing County.

“The main thing for us is we’ve got more or less a full squad to pick from, where I don’t think that’s the case for Newport," he said.

"Obviously Newport are strong, probably one of the strongest teams in the league, but they’ve got one out on international duty and two or three injuries so it might be a decent time to play them.”