MX23RW : Monday, April 29 21:47:24| >> :600:181053:181053:

Newport boss Michael Flynn criticises timing of Wales squad announcement

Newport boss Michael Flynn criticises timing of Wales squad announcement
© Reuters
Midfielder Josh Sheehan is a borderline Euro 2020 call, with the squad to be announced before Newport's play-off final.

Michael Flynn has criticised the Football Association of Wales for naming their Euro 2020 squad before Newport's Wembley play-off final due to the possible impact on Exiles midfielder Josh Sheehan.

Wales boss Robert Page announces his 26-man squad for the delayed European Championship on Sunday evening ahead of Newport's meeting with Morecambe in the Sky Bet League Two play-off final the following afternoon.

Sheehan is a borderline Euro 2020 selection and Newport boss Flynn believes Wales should have delayed named their squad until after his side's winner-takes-all promotion showdown.

Competing Euro 2020 teams have until June 1 to register their squads – 10 days prior to the opening match of the tournament.

England manager Gareth Southgate chose to announce his 26-man Euros squad next week after Champions League and Europa League finals involving players from Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.

"I'm going to have to speak to the Welsh FA to see if they can put it back to Monday night," Flynn said.

"That's not thought through too much for my liking. Whether it's positive or negative, Josh is going to have to deal with it.

"He's either going to be disappointed or excited. Either way it can drive him on to have a good game.

"If it is a negative he has to turn into a positive and show what they're going to miss.

"If it is a positive then he has to keep showing what they're going to get from him and how much he's going to push for a starting place.

"I'm sure it will play on my mind more than his, but he's definitely good enough."

Sheehan was one of the stand-out performers as Newport finished fifth in League Two before beating Forest Green in a crazy play-off semi-final tie, which the Exiles won 5-4 on aggregate.

The 25-year-old, who won his first Wales cap last November, has made over 170 County appearances since suffering a serious injury at Swansea earlier in his career.

"If he didn't have that bad injury I think he would have stayed at Swansea," Flynn said.

"He's an outstanding footballer and I'm very fortunate to be working with him.

"This could be his last Newport game. I'm sure he has attracted a lot of attention this season and there will be a lot of suitors for him."

Flynn has packed a lot into his four years as Newport boss with an incredible EFL relegation escape act, numerous cup runs and giant-killing scalps and two play-off appearances on his CV.

"The only thing missing in the whole lot is a promotion and that's what we want more than anything," Flynn said as County prepare to make a fifth Wembley visit in nine years.

"Although we lost last time (to Tranmere in 2019) there were no nerves. It was a very tight encounter where we should have had a penalty and we conceded in the last minute of extra time.

"It was nothing to do with the occasion and it getting the better of us.

"I think it will be another tight encounter and hopefully we pip it this time. It's either a carnival atmosphere or a graveyard and I know which side I want to be on."

ID:449343: cacheID:449343:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4789:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
A general shot of a Premier League football ahead of the Premier League clash between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on October 30, 2016
Read Next:
Hege Riise explains absence of Northern Ireland players
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CStockport CountyStockport462711896484892
4MK Dons462391483681578
5Doncaster RoversDoncaster46218177368571
6Crewe AlexandraCrewe461914136965471
7Crawley TownCrawley46217187367670
8BarrowBarrow461815136256669
9Bradford CityBradford461912156159269
10AFC Wimbledon4617141564511365
11Walsall461811176973-465
12Gillingham461810184657-1164
13Harrogate TownHarrogate461712176069-963
14Notts County46187218986361
15Morecambe461710196781-1458
16Tranmere RoversTranmere46176236770-357
17Accrington StanleyAccrington46169216371-857
18Newport CountyNewport46167236276-1455
19Swindon TownSwindon461412207783-654
20Salford City461312216682-1651
21Grimsby Town461116195774-1749
22Colchester UnitedColchester461112235980-2145
RSutton UnitedSutton46915225984-2542
RForest Green RoversForest Green46119264478-3442


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!