Woods focused on success with Pilgrims rather than his future
SAM Woods is excited to get going at Plymouth Argyle as he begins his second loan spell away from Premier League club Crystal Palace.
The 22-year-old defender has joined Ryan Lowe’s Pilgrims on a deal until the end of the season.
Woods had his first training session with his new team-mates on Tuesday and was impressed with them and the set-up at Argyle.
He also revealed that he was grateful to Palace defender Scott Dann for giving him a good reference to Lowe.
Like the Pilgrims’ boss, Dann comes from Liverpool and has kept a watchful eye on Woods as he has developed from the academy into the development squad.
Woods said: “My agent gave me a call Friday and said Plymouth Argyle were looking for a centre-half and that the Gaffer (Lowe) had seen a few of my clips and been scouting me, and was interested in taking me on loan.
“I literally did all the paperwork Saturday and drove down Sunday, and started training Tuesday.
“The boys all welcomed me in and I feel part of the team already, which is good.”
Woods has become part of a young squad which includes two other defenders who are on loan from Premier League clubs - Jerome Opoku of Fulham and Newcastle United’s Kell Watts.
In addition, the Pilgrims’ first choice goalkeeper is 21-year-old Mike Cooper.
Woods said: “That’s quite nice to have people similar to your age. I think that’s why I feel very welcome because you kind of relate to them a bit more.
“They are all new faces for me but football is a small world. People know people. I have had mutual connections with some of them.”
Lowe’s connection with Dann, a former Palace captain and player-ofthe-year, was one of the reasons why Woods ended up being recruited by the Argyle manager.
Woods said: “Dannsy is a centrehalf like me and when I first got into the first team at Palace he took me under his wing.
“It was great for him to give me a reference. He phoned me when he found out that it (the loan move to Argyle) was fully completed.
“He told me to get my head down, smash it and enjoy the experience.
So it was really nice to hear and it’s a big confidence boost going forward.”
Woods’ previous loan spell away from Palace was with Scottish Premiership side Hamilton Academical.
He scored on his debut and made three starts for Accies before their season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Woods said: “The Hamilton experience was good. That was my first time being away from home and I think it has prepared me in good stead for this one now.
“I’m a bit more prepared and I know how to look after myself a bit better. That was a great experience up there.
“Hopefully I can take that forward into my time with Argyle. I learned about the physicality of men’s football I think because it’s completely different to academy football.
“Academy football is quite nice and it’s not real, if that makes sense.
“With men’s football it’s a fight every time you step in the pitch, so I think that’s the main thing I learned and I’m definitely prepared for that going forward.”
Woods made his first team debut for Palace in October 2018, in a 1-0 EFL Cup fourth round defeat away to Middlesbrough.
He has gone to make a further two starts and one substitute appearance for the Eagles, while regularly playing for the under-23s and captaining them as well.
Woods said: “You just have to look at the stats really. To breakthrough into a Premier League team is hard.
“Everyone who is playing in the Premier League now has either come from the lower leagues or has gone out on loan.
“I think you can only count on two hands the players who have come straight through from an academy into the Prem.
“Harry Kane had a few loan spells. That’s the way you have to do it to learn your trade and get into the first team.”
Woods will be out of contract at Palace this summer but, for now, he is not thinking about what the future might hold.
The defender said: “I’m not really sure to be honest. I’m just focused on the football side of things.
“I don’t bother myself with the contract side. I just want to play football, get my head down and help Argyle push into the play-offs - that’s my main focus.”
Woods has not kicked a ball for the Pilgrims yet but he has won over the Green Army already with a message that was posted on social media.
He said: “I did a little video saying I was really excited to be joining Argyle and literally all the comments were ‘He’s already started right here’.
“I think if I had called them Plymouth I think I wouldn’t have bothered driving down!
“I have only been in Plymouth for a short time but it’s a nice city, close to the sea. I’m really excited to be playing football but also living down here.”
Lowe has been building a young squad at Argyle with players with plenty of potential for improvement and Woods fits that bill.
“He (Lowe) has been very welcoming,” said Woods. “He spoke to me about the tactics and the way the team plays.
“Obviously, I have been doing my research as well so I was kind of informed before he even spoke to me.”
He added: “They have had a few good results recently and hopefully we can push into the play-offs.
“I know I have to work hard in training to get into a winning team so I’m prepared to fight for my place.”
Argyle have been unbeaten in five League One games at the start of 2021 after a dreadful run of results in late November and early December.
Woods said: “You always want to be looking up rather than down. I have been watching the games as well and the boys work hard and play some nice football.
“Hopefully we can get some good results and push up the table.”
Woods’ loan spell at Argyle begins with the Dockyard Derby against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Saturday.
He said: “What a first game that would be. I’m really looking forward to it and if I’m in the team I will do my best and hopefully we can get the win.”