Pilgrims seek a professional’s view on Macleod
PLYMOUTH Argyle are awaiting a specialist opinion on the knee injury to midfielder Lewis Macleod which has sidelined him for the club’s last two matches.
Pilgrims’ boss Ryan Lowe was hopeful that Macleod would get the all clear today to resume full training.
Should that be the case, the 26-year-old Scot could return to the squad for the League One game against Burton Albion at Home Park tomorrow.
Macleod was ruled out of the 1-0 defeat at Hull City last Saturday after being substituted in the first half of the previous game.
The former Rangers, Brentford and Wigan Athletic midfielder was also an absentee when a muchchanged Argyle lost 2-0 away to Cheltenham Town in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.
Lowe said: “Lewis has been training with Dave (Galley, head physio) and John (Lucas, head of fitness and conditioning) so he has been keeping up to speed and doing a lot of footballing work.
“We just wanted to get a specialist view on the injury and get it looked at it properly, and see what is causing the problem.
“If that comes back all clear today (Thursday) then he will be back training with the first team and available for Saturday hopefully.”
Lowe added: “He has been keeping on top of that fitness, and still been doing a lot of ball work, which is good.
“He just hasn’t joined in with the lads in terms of training, but we have had games so there has hardly been much training really.
“We are hoping we get some good news on him today and he will be eligible for Saturday.”
Striker Luke Jephcott is also in contention for a return to Argyle’s squad against Burton after a fourweek lay-off.
He was substituted after scoring in the 1-0 League One seasonopening win against Blackpool at Home Park on September 12 due to a thigh strain.
Jephcott travelled with the rest of the Pilgrims’ players to Hull but Lowe was wary of taking any risks with him and his fitness.
Lowe said: “Jephs will train today and tomorrow with us. He has trained all week, he has been fine.
“We just didn’t want to rush him back too soon. I wanted to be a little bit cautious, as I always am with injuries.”
Meanwhile, there is more encouraging news about 37-yearold goalkeeper Luke McCormick.
He has not played yet in the 2020/21 campaign, after re-signing for Argyle from Swindon Town in the summer, because of a shoulder injury he suffered in preseason.
Lowe said: “Luke McCormick is doing a little bit of light training now, so that’s good.”
Jack Ruddy, who played the game against Cheltenham, has been the back-up ‘keeper to Mike Cooper for league games this term.