Connor Essam will get his first taste of action this season as Crawley team take on Newport County at the Checkatrade.com Stadium.

Essam comes in for his first appearance since April as one of five changes boss Richie Barker has made for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie.

The former Gillingham defender takes his place in a new-look back four also featuring Mark Connolly and James Hurst with Kyle McFadzean (ill) and Joe Walsh (international duty) dropping out of the squad altogether.

Sergio Torres makes his first start of the season in a midfield which also features Josh Simpson back in his favoured position after playing the last three games at right-back with Andy Drury and Dannie Bulman rested to the bench.

Emile Sinclair comes in to partner Jamie Proctor up front with Billy Clarke not even included among the substitutes.

Newport also make the maximum of five changes to the team which drew 0-0 at Bury on Saturday. Jamie Stephens, Chris Zebroski, Robbie Willmott, Ryan Jackson and Tom Naylor come in with Lenny Pidgeley, David Pipe, Adam Chapman, Conor Washington and Harry Worley dropping out.

Crawley (4-4-2): P Jones; Hurst, Essam, Connolly, Sadler; Adams, Simpson, M Jones, Torres; Sinclair, Proctor. Subs: Alexander, Drury, Bulman, Rooney, Maddison.

Newport (4-3-3): Stephens; Jackson, James, Yakubu, Hughes; Minshull, Naylor, Flynn; Crow, Zebroski, Willmott. Subs: Pidgeley, Pipe, Chapman, Washington.