Aimson returns after Covid test returns positive
DEFENDER Will Aimson will be added to the Plymouth Argyle squad for their League One away game against Hull City on Saturday.
Aimson was ruled out of the 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury Town at Home Park last weekend following a positive COVID-19 test.
The 26-year-old is set to return to training tomorrow (Friday) after carrying out a period of self-isolation as per government guidance.
Aimson’s positive COVID-19 test came after he had played in the Carabao Cup tie away to Leyton Orient on September 15.
It emerged at the start of the following week that there had been a coronavirus outbreak at the east London club.
As a result, Argyle had all of their players and backroom staff checked for COVID-19, and Aimson and goalkeeping coach Rhys Wilmot were the only two who tested positive.
Argyle manager Ryan Lowe said: “Will is all okay, he’s training tomorrow.”
Aimson began his career at Hull City, signing for them at the age of 17 from Eastleigh.
He went on to have loan spells at Tamworth, Tranmere Rovers and Blackpool but did not break into the first team at Hull.
That led to him eventually making a permanent move to Blackpool in January 2016.
Lowe will also have striker Luke Jephcott, on-loan Fulham defender Jerome Opoku and midfielder Ben Reeves available for selection against Hull.
Jephcott has missed the last three matches because of a thigh strain while Reeves has been working on his fitness after signing as a free agent late in pre-season.
Opoku completed his loan move last Friday and the game against Shrewsbury came too soon after that for him to be included in the squad.
Lowe now has plenty of competition for places with the addition of Aimson, Jephcott, Opoku and Reeves to the mix.
Meanwhile, Jephcott has not been selected for the Wales under21s squad for their European Championship qualifier away to Belgium next Friday.
Jephcott made his U21s debut as a second half substitute when Wales lost 1-0 to Bosnia and Herzegovina last month.
However, he has not been selected by Wales boss Paul Bodin for their latest match because he has missed Argyle’s last three matches and only returned to training this week.
Without a call-up by Wales under-21s, Jephcott will be available for Argyle’s two fixtures next week instead of being on international duty. They are the EFL Trophy group game away to Cheltenham Town on Tuesday, followed by the home league game against Burton Albion next Saturday.
Jephcott picked up his injury after scoring what turned out to be the only goal of the game when Argyle beat Blackpool 1-0 in their League One season-opener at Home Park on September 12.
Goalkeeper Luke McCormick could be ready to resume training within the next fortnight.
McCormick has been on the sidelines since suffering a shoulder injury late in the pre-season.
Lowe said: “Luke is coming on. He has got an appointment with the specialist on Monday - we have managed to get him in.
“We are hoping, touch wood, that he doesn’t have to get an operation.
“The specialist will deal with that, but he thinks that he might get away with some sort of injections and that should help.”
Meanwhile, Argyle club captain Gary Sawyer faces an extended period out of action.
The 35-year-old defender suffered an ankle injury in the 3-2 EFL Trophy defeat by Norwich City Under-21s at Home Park on September 8.
With Sawyer facing a lengthy lay-off, Lowe signed Jerome Opoku on loan from Fulham last week to compensate for his absence.
Opoku, 21, will be with the Pilgrims until at least January as Sawyer recovers from his injury.
Lowe said: “I don’t want to put a timescale on it, but it’s not going to be anytime soon. Probably around Christmas time.”