Super September earns Lowe his nomination
PLYMOUTH Argyle manager Ryan Lowe has been rewarded for the Pilgrims’ super September with a nomination for the Sky Bet League One manager of the month award.
The Pilgrims’ run of 11 points from five games has seen them climb to third place in the standings, winning three and drawing two of their five matches in the month.
Lowe will be up against Sunderland boss Lee Johnson, who masterminded ten points (three wins and a draw) from their four games in the month; MK Dons chief Liam Manning, who saw his side collect 11 points from five games, with three wins and two draws, and Leam Richardson of Wigan Athletic.
The Latics picked up nine points from ive games - beating Doncaster Roivers, Accrington Stanley and Cheltenham Town - but defeats to Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday are likely to put him out of contention.
Somewhat surprisingly, there was no Argyle player shortlisted for the player of the month award. Instead, the nominees are Anthony Scully (Lincoln City), Cole Stockton (Morecambe), Scott Twine (MK Dons) and Carl Winchester of Sunderland.
All winners will be announced on Friday.
Meanwhile, Argyle’s youngest-ever player, Freddie Issaka, has agreed to sign a professional contract with the club on his 17th birthday.
The striker made his senior debut at the age of 15 years and 34 days when he played as a second half substitute in the Papa John’s Trophy group game away to Newport County earlier this season.
Argyle director of football Neil Dewsnip has confirmed that another schoolboy, midfielder Caleb Roberts, will also sign a pro deal with the Pilgrims when he is 17.
Issaka and Roberts have both featured for Argyle’s under-18s’ side under Darren Way in the EFL Youth Alliance this season.
Dewsnip said: “Freddie and Caleb are still at school but they are thought of highly enough that we have offered them - and they have accepted - the opportunity to sign as professional players when their time comes on their 17th birthdays.
“It’s a very exciting time to be a young talented player at Argyle. The key is you have got to be talented, and that takes a lot of hard work and endeavour on the boys’ part.
“I think it’s great news for everybody about Freddie and Caleb - for the football club generally and for the boys because it’s a recognition of how highly we think of them.
“It’s really exciting for the supporters to know that we have got some young talented boys just under the radar.”
Left-back Ben Purrington signed his first professional contract with Argyle on his 17th birthday in 2013, and went on to be sold by the club for £300,000 to Rotherham United then in the Championship - in 2017.
Defender Brandon Pursall also signed a pro deal when he turned 17 last year and to date has made three starts and one substitute appearance for the Pilgrims, all of them in the Papa John’s Trophy.
Dewsnip said: “A very small percentage of players around the country would be offered that opportunity at their clubs.
“It is a particular ‘well done’ to the two boys, but, equally, it’s a sign of the work that’s going on within our academy.
“I think it’s a massive signpost to say to the supporters that Argyle is about developing our own players. We have got Michael (Cooper) in goal at the moment doing particularly well and so is Luke (Jephcott).
“We have got another batch starting to develop so it’s very healthy for the club.”
Issaka was one of five academy products who made their Argyle debuts against Newport in the Papa John’s Trophy tie.
The others were midfielder Angel Waruih and striker Oscar Massey, who were both in the starting lineup, plus Will Jenkins-Davies and Carlo Garside, who came off the bench.
Jenkins-Davies, who is 17 later this month, was an unused substitute when Argyle drew 2-2 away to Lincoln City in League One on Saturday and is away at a Wales under-18 training camp in Cardiff this week.
Some or all of those young talents could be involved in Argyle’s second of three group games in the Papa John’s Trophy.
That will be against Swindon Town at Home Park on Tuesday, October 12 (7pm), with the Pilgrims then hosting Arsenal Under-21s on November 16.