Schumacher facing selection dilemma

Experienced defender is available after serving a one-match suspension

STEVEN Schumacher has admitted he has got ‘a tough decision to make’ when it comes to his team selection for Plymouth Argyle’s game versus Bolton Wanderers at Home Park today (KO 3pm).

Ordinarily, the Pilgrims’ boss would likely stick with the same starting line-up following the 3-0 win away to Forest Green Rovers.

However, experienced defender James Wilson is available after serving a onematch suspension last weekend. He was sent-off for handball during the 5-1 drubbing by Charlton Athletic at The Valley.

Nigel Lonwijk, the 19-year-old loan signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers, made his first league start against Forest Green and impressed as part of the defensive trio, alongside Dan Scarr and Brendan Galloway.

Now Schumacher has to choose whether to continue with Lonwijk or recall Wilson, who played in the opening four league games of the campaign.

Schumacher said: “Every team you pick, it’s always a difficult decision because you are never 100 per cent sure. You have got ideas in your head and you think this is how you see the game going.

“You are never 100 per cent sure whether you get it right or not. It’s just result dependent all the time whether you look real good or really stupid.

“But it’s a good problem to have. Nigel came in and played really well. If Nigel didn’t play well then it’s easy for me to go ‘Willo, you are back in’ but Nigel did play well so, yeah, I have got a tough decision to make.

“As a manager, that’s what you want. It’s better to have tough decisions than not,” added the Pilgrims’ boss.

Galloway made his first league start of the season for Argyle against Forest Green, taking over on the left side of defence from Macaulay Gillesphey, as he continued his return from a serious knee injury.

The Zimbabwe international had previously started the 2-0 Carabao Cup first round home defeat by Peterborough United and been a half-time substitute against

Charlton.

Schumacher said: “We had to go slow with Brendan early on because it was a bad injury he had, and the steps were to slowly integrate him into the team.

“He has come back into training, he’s getting stronger each week. I thought he did well when he played against Peterborough in the cup.

“To start the game at Forest Green, play really well and play the full 90 minutes was outstanding. I’m made up for him.

“He’s a great character, he trains really well every day, gives it all and as he proved last season he’s a good player, so the longer we can keep him fit then the better we will be.”