LONDON, CMC – Newport County manager Michael Flynn says Guyana striker Keanu Marsh-Brown is no longer part of his plans for his first team after turning down the chance to go out on loan.
The 27-year-old Londoner joined League Two side Newport on a two-year deal last June, scoring one goal in his first season at Rodney Parade.
Marsh-Brown has just been on international duty in the CONCACAF Nations League, in which Guyana – nicknamed the Golden Jaguars – beat Aruba 1-0 in Curacao last Friday before losing 4-0 at home to Jamaica on Monday.
Marsh-Brown is yet to play this season for second-placed Newport, who lost to Tranmere Rovers in last season’s promotion final. The club has carried last term’s fine form into this season and sit two points behind leaders Exeter City.
“He didn’t want to go out on loan, so I’m not even concerned about Keanu, he’s right at the back of my mind,” said Flynn ahead of last weekend’s home game against Port Vale, which Newport won 1-0 through Jamaican striker Jamille Matt’s tap-in after he came on as a second-half substitute.
“We’ll try and get Keanu out when he comes back. I’m not going to say he doesn’t want to play, but he has had opportunities to go out on loan and he’s chosen not to take them. I’ve made it clear he’s not in my plans.
“One thing I’ll say, he’s not caused me any problems at the training ground.”
He added: “It’s nothing personal, he’s not in my plans. Certain players work, some don’t, it’s as simple as that.”
Flynn also claimed that Marsh-Brown had not informed him he was involved in Guyana’s double-header against Aruba and Jamaica. But the player vehemently refuted the claim, saying he had documentation showing contact was made by the Guyana Football Federation on August 20.
Marsh-Brown joined Newport from Dover Athletic, who play in the fifth tier of English football, following a three-year stint at Forest Green Rovers, where he scored 20 goals in 90 appearances for the Gloucestershire club.