AFC Telford boss Rob Edwards defends his call to drop Elliot Newby
Boss Rob Edwards insists leaving fan favourite Elliot Newby out of the starting XI for AFC Telford United's past two games was purely for tactical reasons.
Newby, 22, has been one of the Bucks' standout performers since arriving from Barrow during the summer and is their third top scorer with five goals.
He was regular starter before the festive double header with Kidderminster Harriers. Supporters have been questioning why Newby was benched and Edwards says the winger is not carrying a knock, or fatigued.
"It is nothing to do with that," said the Telford chief.
"I just try to pick the team that I think will try and get the three points.
"Monday, I felt Max (Leonard) coming in onto his right foot and Marcus (Dinanga) running in behind would be able to work in a combination that, we felt, would hurt them.
"I thought Elliot affected the game well when he came on.
"He has put himself right back in the frame but we have got some strength in those areas of the pitch.
"I was pleased with his attitude when he came on and you expect nothing less from Elliot.
"He has been fantastic for us so far this season. We have been delighted with him."
Former Bolton Wanderers youngster Newby has also filled in as a wing-back and a central midfielder this season.
After coming on at Aggborough on New Year's Day, he had a long-range effort smack the crossbar.
It was another blank for the Bucks, though, losing 2-0.
They have failed to score in three of their last four games and Edwards stressed his attacking players, such as former Wolves and Shrewsbury striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, are working vigorously on the training pitch to regain a cutting edge.
"We work on it all the time in training," he said.
"There are things that we can, certainly, improve on and there always will be.
"The game is about two sides – you either haven't got the ball, or you have. I think we can be better with both at the moment."
He added: "There were some good performances at Kidderminster, but not enough.
"I felt in the previous game against them (the 0-0 draw on Boxing Day) that we won a lot of the battles.
"Monday, I thought they did."
