Millwall (H) | Pleguezuelo's Preview

For plenty of the Argyle squad, the step into the Sky Bet Championship has been a new experience, and an adventure.

Julio Plegeuzuelo is among that number, but for him, factor in a change of nation into the learning process.

Known to all at Home Park as ‘Pleggy’, the 26-year-old Spanish defender played for several seasons in the top flight in the Netherlands with FC Twente, but returned to England with Argyle in the summer, having previously spent formative years with Arsenal.

Playing in an Argyle squad that have earned 11 points from nine games, Pleguezuelo said: “I'm loving every second of it. For me, it's a big challenge to play in this league. I feel like I'm learning every week. Every game that I play, I'm learning more and more.

“I think we have had a decent start to the campaign, but at the same time, I think there's a lot more growth within us that is going to keep coming out every week. It's a long season ahead. We're still all learning, but it's looking really exciting for us.

“In terms of physicality, it's a big step. You have to consider the amount of games that we play in this league; it’s a big difference. Dutch football is more known for being more technical and tactical, which helped me to grow as a player as well. I think I'm doing well in this challenge to play in English football again. I’m really happy with how it's going.

“We know that week in, week out, we're going to be facing teams with bigger budgets than us, but at the same time that doesn't necessarily mean that they're going to beat us.

“We have a very young squad, very talented, with very interesting players, and I think they're all adapting very well to the league.”

Most recently, Argyle obtained a 1-1 scoreline at Hull City, in a battling draw on Humberside. This week, they face two games at sold-out Home Park, against Swansea City on Saturday, but first, against Millwall on Tuesday night.

Pleguezuelo has enjoyed playing at home thus far, and believes there are several reasons to be upbeat about games within the Theatre of Greens.

“One reason is the confidence that we get from the fans,” he said. “Playing at home helps us massively. Secondly, I think nobody wants to travel all the way down to Plymouth and face us, especially in a packed stadium. It's a lovely feeling to walk out on that pitch and to feel the fans roaring and have them behind us.

“Getting that point against Hull [was good] and if we get something positive in the next two home games - hopefully two wins – then that point is going to feel much more valuable.

“Millwall are a tough team, a very established team in the Championship. We know what we're going to expect from them. We just have to match them and try to get the three points.”