Opoku’s return delights boss Lowe
RYAN Lowe has praised the ‘excellent’ performance of borrowed defender Jerome Opoku on his return to first team action for Plymouth Argyle, writes Chris Errington.
The 6ft 4in loan signing from Fulham was recalled to the starting line-up for the 3-2 FA Cup third round win away to Huddersfield Town.
Opoku was picked by Lowe to play in the middle of the three central defensive positions instead of Niall Canavan for the match at the John Smith’s Stadium.
The 22-year-old had dropped out of the side after the 3-0 League One defeat away to Paul Tisdale’s Bristol Rovers on December 12 and did not play in any of the next four games.
Opoku was a second half substitute in the 1-0 victory over Gillingham at Home Park on January 2 before returning to the side at Huddersfield.
Lowe said: “When we went on that run when we beat against Doncaster and Swindon, and we drew against Portsmouth, Jerome was fantastic.
“He had a dip in form against Bristol Rovers and it took him a little while to recover from that.
The number of games Jerome Opoku missed when out of the Plymouth Argyle team
“He was disappointed in himself because he had come in and he had done great, and he had to wait his chance.”
Opoku for Canavan was one of two changes Lowe made to his side against Huddersfield, who started with a completely different starting XI from their previous match in the Championship against Reading.
On-loan Nottingham Forest midfielder Tyrese Fornah played for Argyle instead of the injured Lewis Macleod.
Lowe said: “We thought they (Huddersfield) were going to play different players and that Jerome warranted a start for us.
“Lewis wasn’t quite right, that’s why Tyrese came in, and we just felt one extra change at the back - bigger and faster - would help us and it certainly did.”
Opoku has now made a total of 12 starts and five substitute appearances for Argyle since signing in September, with his loan spell from Fulham due to end on January 28.
Argyle boss Lowe must now decide whether to extend that loan for the remainder of the season, or terminate it to allow him to bring in a fresh loanee.