Boosting the Ranks

JOHN Sheridan has “more or less agreed everything” to bring a loan player to Home Park before the Sky Bet League 2 season kicks off on August 9.

The Pilgrims’ manager is eager to strengthen his squad in key areas in time for Argyle’s curtain-raiser at newly-promoted Cambridge United and is zeroing in on a defender.

“I am hoping to have a player sorted out by next week,” he said, in the wake of the Pilgrims’ 2-1 Home Park defeat by Yeovil on Wednesday.

“We have more or less agreed everything, but he has just got to make one or two little decisions then hopefully he will be involved with us next week. It will be a loan. It is a defensive player.

“His club will not let him come until Sunday. I just want to fill in a few areas with strength in depth: defensively; in midfield; and a wide-man so, if I can find a way of getting them, hopefully I can do that.”

The loan will be for half a season, said John. “It is one of things when you loan players...everyone knows the situation with where we are, and if you are going to be happy when you come down,” he said. “If he comes down and gets games – which hopefully he will – and we are winning games, hopefully he will want to stay.”

Argyle were without Deane Smalley, Matt Lecointe and Dominic Blizzard for the match with League 1 Yeovil and the trio will be absent for a little while longer, with Argyle scheduled to visit Weston-super-Mare at the weekend.

“They are all due to come back to training next Monday,” he said, “but I will not risk them for Saturday. They are ready to start training now - and obviously we need to look to the Cambridge game - but I do not expect them to be fit for that game. They will be doing everything in training, apart from striking a ball really.
 
“With Dom and Smalley coming back, we look a little stronger, and one or two more people coming in would push those who think they are going to be in the team.”