Argyle will have to wait for a decision

STEVEN Schumacher does not expect Plymouth Argyle midfielder Panutche Camara to make a decision on whether to sign the new long-term contract he has been offered by the club until the summer.

With four weeks of their 2021/22 League One campaign remaining, the fourth-placed Pilgrims are involved in a fiercely competitive promotion race.

Schumacher suggested that whether Argyle are in the Championship or League One next season could influence Camara’s contract decision.

Regardless of that, the Pilgrims have a 12-month option on his current deal with them for next term, and they will take that up if necessary.

Camara has made a total of 79 starts and 13 substitute appearances for Argyle since signing from Crawley Town in the summer of 2020 and has scored 10 goals.

His fine form this season has led to him being called up for the first time to play international football for Guinea-Bissau.

Argyle’s director of football Neil Dewsnip has had conversations with Camara and his agent over the new contract offer.

Schumacher said: “I’m guessing they want to wait until the end of the season, see what division we are in, see what offers come in on the table for him.

“As an agent, that’s probably his job to do that. It’s not what we want. Obviously, we want Panutche’s contract to be secure and whatever.

“If I felt that his performances were being affected then maybe I would have done something about it, but I know what Pan is like as a character. His levels haven’t dropped, his training intensity hasn’t dropped.”

Camara started two of GuineaBissau’s three group games at the Africa Cup of Nations in January and was a late substitute in the other one.

On his return to Argyle, the 25-year-old did not play with his usual dynamism and dropped out of the side but his recent performances have been back to a high level.

Schumacher said: “He had a little bit of a wobble and we left him out the team. He looked tired and his levels did drop. He came out the team and since then he has been great.

“I’m not worried about it. The club know what the plan is in the summer if he chooses not to sign.”