Grant starts to show his true worth to Pilgrims
JOSH Grant has already emerged as perhaps best suited out of Plymouth Argyle’s defenders to play the style of football demanded by Ryan Lowe.
The 20-year-old former England youth international completed his six-month loan move from Chelsea in early August.
He had to bide his time for a first League Two start as the Pilgrims got off to a good start and Lowe went with the trio of Scott Wootton, Niall Canavan and Gary Sawyer.
However, Grant got chances to show what he could do in Argyle’s two Carabao Cup ties, as well as the opening group game in the Leasing. com Trophy against Bristol Rovers last Tuesday.
Those displays led to him making his first League Two start in the 2-2 draw with Oldham Athletic at Home Park last Saturday, when Gary Sawyer dropped down to the bench to accommodate Grant.
It was not a faultless performance from Grant, with perhaps an overeagerness at times to engage with an opponent on the ball at times but, overall, he could feel pleased.
So too could Lowe. He wants his team to play out from the back, starting with goalkeeper Alex Palmer, and through the defensive trio.
Grant has shown enough evidence so far to suggest he is comfortable at dealing with that.
Importantly, rather than just staying in position and passing the ball forward, the Chelsea loanee is also capable of moving up the pitch with it as well.
Grant went on one surging run in the first half against Oldham which broke through the lines and opened up the opposition.
The break did not lead to a chance, let alone a goal, for the Pilgrims, but that sort of ability is an important asset to have.
The difference between Grant and the trio of Wootton, Canavan and Sawyer is that what Lowe wants from them is perhaps more natural to him. Clearly, at the age of 20, there is still a lot for Grant to learn and he will – and does – make mistakes, but he has confidence on the ball and the versatility to play in a number of different roles.
That should ensure that, now he is in Argyle’s starting line-up, there is a good chance of him staying there.