Kargbo is a possible replacement for Will Evans, last season’s top scorer, who left the club earlier this month to join League One side Mansfield Town.

However, Jardim is prepared to be without the 1.93-metre-tall centre-forward until November, adding: “The wise decision would be to have him operated on now. Then we will be sure that he will be back and fit in three months.”

This is a major blow for former Southend player Kargbo, who signed a contract with Newport just days before the start of the season following a successful trial match.

His departure from the Cheltenham pitch left Newport down to ten men for the final minutes of the game, with Joel Colwill, on loan at Cardiff City, scoring the winning goal in injury time.

“It’s very disappointing for him, he’s a nice person and he works hard,” Jardim said.

“When I gave him a chance in that game and he made a big impression, I thought, ‘Wow, we’ve got something here.’ Then we had to play without him for six minutes and in that time we conceded a goal.

“I was very unlucky for him and for us as a team. We lost that game and will probably miss him for a few months.”

Newport have further injury concerns as they look to pick up their first points of the season against highly-rated Doncaster Rovers at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

There is some concern about striker Oliver Greaves, who celebrated his debut with a goal in Cheltenham.

Midfielder Bryn Morris will have to wait for his first appearance of the season as he is still sidelined with a foot injury, but he should be available for the home game against Accrington Stanley on Saturday 24 August.

Winger Michael Spellman could also be available for his Newport debut against Accrington after his injury.