Western Morning News (Saturday)
Bolton to miss the rest of the season for Argyle
MRI scan reveals that former Portsmouth defender has a minor fracture in his foot
DEFENDER James Bolton will not play again for Plymouth Argyle this season, even if they go on and make it all the way to the League One play-off final.
The 27-year-old has been ruled out after an MRI scan revealed he had a minor fracture in a foot.
Bolton had suffered what was thought to be a rolled ankle in the first half of the 1-0 defeat away to Ipswich Town on March 26 but the injury has proved to be more significant than that.
It ends a largely disappointing and frustrating first season at Argyle for Bolton, who was signed on a twoyear contract from Portsmouth last summer.
Bolton suffered an ankle injury in the first few days of pre-season training and did not make his debut for the Pilgrims until he started in the 1-0 extra-time win away to Birmingham City in the FA Cup third round on January 8.
Argyle manager Steven Schumacher said: “He had an MRI scan on what we thought was just a kick at Ipswich and the results that we got back for him weren’t good.
“He had a minor fracture on his foot so that was a blow and he has gone home. I don’t think it’s a serious one but it’s probably going to be four or five weeks.
“It’s disappointing for him because he didn’t feel it was too bad. It looked like a bit of an innocuous one.
“It’s the part of the bone that it has hit him on, it has affected him. That will be him probably done for the season even with the play-offs.”
The two-legged League One playoff semi-finals will take place on May 5/6 and 8/9, with the final at Wembley on Saturday, May 21.
Argyle are currently fifth in the table with two games of the regular season left to play, away to leaders Wigan Athletic today and against MK Dons at Home Park on April 30.
Bolton has made a total of 13 starts and one substitute appearance for the Pilgrims this season, taking on a regular role after a hamstring injury to Dan Scarr.
With Bolton joining long-term absentee Brendan Galloway on the injury list, Argyle are down to just four fit defenders - James Wilson, Scarr, Macaulay Gillesphey and Romoney Crichlow, the loan signing from Huddersfield Town.
Meanwhile, midfielder Alfie Lewis continues to be sidelined by a thigh injury which is going to be scanned for a second time to try and get to the bottom of the problem.
The 22-year-old has made just two substitute appearances since signing for the Pilgrims in early January after
playing for St Patrick’s Athletic during their 2021 League of Ireland season.
Lewis came off the bench in 1-0 extra-time win away to Birmingham City in the FA Cup third round and the 3-3 League One draw away to Fleetwood Town.
Read more: Steven Schumacher hails fantastic Argyle achievement on their travels this season
He was among the non-playing substitutes for Argyle’s 1-0 defeat at Ipswich Town on March 26 only to suffer a recurrence of the thigh strain which had previously kept him out of action.
Argyle manager Steven Schumacher said: “It’s a funny one. We have had him scanned and he had a minor thigh strain. He has trained since and been getting through training sessions but he’s still aware of this issue.
“There might be a more deep-lying concern. We have got to get him re-scanned, which is a bit frustrating for him and for us because he might have played a part over the last few games. He can’t seem to get himself right.
“We are a bit cautious for him to go and push on if it’s not right because we don’t want him to make it any worse, but also if it isn’t anything that is too serious it might just be something he has got to get through.”
Meanwhile, Argyle wing-back George Cooper is working with the club’s medical staff as he rehabs from a knee ‘clean-up’ operation in January.
Schumacher said: “He’s running, he’s out on the pitches with the medical team, which is good after he had his latest knee op.
“They tell me he’s in good shape, he’s physically looking okay. It’s part of his rehab programme where he’s at.
“He isn’t training with the main group yet. I don’t really expect him to either until at least the regular season is done. It’s week by week with him and let the medical team deal with it.”
Cooper had a knee operation in January 2021 and made his comeback as a substitute in the 4-1 Carabao Cup second round defeat at Swansea City in late August.
However, the 25-year-old played only twice more, the last time in Argyle’s 2-1 FA Cup second round win away to Rochdale in December, before he had surgery again.
Meanwhile, there will be a small rise in the cost of 2022/23 Argyle season tickets for adult fans so the club can provide manager Steven Schumacher with an increased playing budget, chief executive officer Andrew Parkinson has stated.
Adult season tickets in the Devonport End, Lyndhurst Stand or Upper Mayflower Grandstand will cost £425 if purchased during the Early Bird window.
This is a guaranteed price for all Early Bird purchasers, even if Steven Schumacher’s Pilgrims are promoted to the Championship.
Season tickets are now available to purchase through argyletickets.com, and in person at the Home Park Ticket Office, or by calling 01752 907700 from Monday (April 25) at 10am.