Plymouth Argyle fans get key injury updates before Blackpool away trip

Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley has provided a highly anticipated injury update ahead of the Greens’ long trip to Blackpool this weekend.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon, Cleverley confirmed several players are set to return, but also revealed that one senior figure is likely to miss the rest of the season.

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Argyle travel to Bloomfield Road on Saturday (14 February) looking to respond after their recent momentum was halted.

“It’s been a determined reaction this week,” Cleverley said. “Our momentum has been jolted, now it’s all about making sure we have a reaction this weekend. It’s a really important few days.”

In positive news for the Green Army, four players are expected to be available for the trip to Lancashire.

“We’ve got four returning this weekend, Hazard, Galloway, Tolaj, Ibrahim,” Cleverley said.

Number one Conor Hazard has been sidelined in recent weeks, with Luca Ashby-Hammond starting the previous three games in goal for Argyle.

ABOVE: Galloway (centre) and Hazard (right) have both been cleared for returns this weekend (Image: PPAUK)

Brendan Galloway, who was recently announced as the club’s January Player of the Month, has also been working his way back from injury. 

Top goalscorer Lorent Tolaj, who suffered a dead-leg in a battling victory against Luton, and Bradley Ibrahim, who has been out since November, are also now back in contention.

Cleverley went on to add that further reinforcements for the squad are close behind.

ABOVE: News of Ibrahim (centre) and Tolaj's (right) returns will be music to Argyle fans' ears (Image: PPAUK)

“On Tuesday, Pleguezuelo is back, and then Sorinola will be back from suspension,” he said. 

“To add to that, Bim [Pepple] has been training all week.”

However, there was disappointing news regarding experienced midfielder Joe Ralls, who had impressed of late and recently signed a new deal keeping him at the club until the end of the season. 

“The injury Joe suffered was on the borderline of surgery,” Cleverley said. “Because it was on the borderline, we needed a second opinion, and we’ve come to the conclusion that Joe will go for surgery. He’s probably played his last game of the season.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s opponents, Cleverley warned that Blackpool will provide a stern test following recent changes.

“They’ve improved since Ian Evatt has gone in,” he said. “It’ll be a very tough test.”

Argyle will once again be backed by more than 1,300 travelling Green Army supporters, with Cleverley praising their continued commitment on the road.