Lowe hopes to forge close links with Liverpool

RYAN Lowe hopes the signing of defender Adam Lewis will be the first of many loan signings that Plymouth Argyle make from Premier League champions Liverpool, writes Chris Errington.

Lewis, a highly-rated 21-year-old, will spend the rest of the season with the Pilgrims after cutting short a spell with French Ligue 2 side Amiens.

He has been brought in by Liverpool-born Lowe to compete for a place at left wing-back after a knee injury to George Cooper.

Lowe revealed that the England under-20 international had been on Argyle’s radar before they completed a permanent move for Cooper from Peterborough United last summer.

Midfielder Conor Grant has been filling in at left wing-back since Cooper was sidelined and now Lowe has addressed that area of the squad with the signing of Lewis.

Lowe said: “I’m buzzing. He’s a fantastic player, we have monitored Adam for a while.

“He was one we were monitoring if we didn’t get George Cooper. To get him is fantastic for us.

“We have been working on it a while. We knew he wasn’t playing many games at Amiens.

“With losing George, we felt we needed to solid up down that side defensively and attacking wise.

“He is a mixture between a Callum McFadzean and a George Cooper.

“Conor has been doing fantastic out there but in terms of competition we needed to make sure we added a little bit more quality, going forward and defending also.”

Lewis signed for Amiens on what was intended as a season long loan but after making six starts and three substitute appearances the deal was called to a halt.

That opened the way for him to complete a move to Argyle, with Lowe keen to build a relationship with Liverpool where more loan deals could be possible in the future.

Lowe said: “They have got to be right. Just because they play for Liverpool Football Club it doesn’t mean they are going to be right for us.

“We have got to make sure the fit is right. Adam is five minutes from round where I live, which is good because he’s on my wavelength and he’s a proper Scouser.

“In terms of Liverpool, they have been fantastic with us. We spoke to all the main and relevant people there and they have been different class with us.

“We want to build that relationship, that’s the first hopefully of many.

“They have given us an opportunity to work with Adam because they feel we are progressing in the right way, they will be coached properly and we play a good brand of football.

“It’s pleasing to finally get a loan off my hometown football club.”

Lowe has been aware of Lewis and his capabilities since his days as the boss at Bury.

“When we were at Bury we managed to get a game against Liverpool at Melwood and Adam played in it,” said the Pilgrims’ boss.

“We saw Adam then and we felt he was the right fit for us now that we have lost George for a while.”

> Adam Lewis