Lowe will not rush back midfield man Macleod
PLYMOUTH Argyle midfielder Lewis Macleod will not be rushed into a return to first team action, Ryan Lowe has declared.
The 26-year-old has not played for the Pilgrims since he was substituted in the first half of the 1-0 League One win against Gillingham at Home Park on January 2 due to an ankle injury.
Macleod is continuing to work closely with Argyle’s head physio, Dave Galley, on a fitness programme.
Club captain Gary Sawyer is training regularly with the rest of the Pilgrims’ squad after recovering from his long-term ankle injury.
However, the lack of any development squad matches or friendlies means there is no chance for the experienced defender to get any game-time outside of the first team.
Tyrese Fornah, the loan signing from Nottingham Forest, has been putting in some good displays for Argyle in the midfield holding role during the absence of Macleod.
Lowe said: “Lewis will continue his work with Dave. We will see how he is today (Thursday).
“If I needed Lewis Macleod he would say ‘Yeah, come on, I’m ready’ but I don’t need him at this moment in time because we have got a fully fit squad - he’s the only one, touch wood.”
“So, in terms of that, there is no need to rush him.”
Macleod has been limited to a total of nine starts and two substitute appearances since signing for Argyle last summer.
He missed the whole of October and November because of a knee injury.
Sawyer’s only appearance this season came in the 3-2 EFL Trophy defeat at home to Norwich City Under-21s on September 8, when he suffered his ankle injury.
Lowe said: “Gary Sawyer has been training with the group now for probably 10 days so he’s fit, but is he ready to come into a game?
“We haven’t got any bounce (development squad) games we can get him in. So getting Gaz up to match fitness is going to be tough.
“But if we need him we will use him. He’s involved, he’s around the group, and he’s captain of the club.”
The absence of any matches outside the first team has been one of the many challenges for Lowe this season.
The Argyle boss said: “We are not in the Central League at the moment. Even getting friendlies, you have got to have them (the opposition players) all tested.
“I would rather stay in our bubble and keep doing what we are doing with the Covid protocols, than risk going to play a game somewhere.
“Where we are at now with Gaz and Lewis, they will just have to catch up with extra sessions, but there is no real substitute for full fitness in terms of games.”
Argyle’s one long-term absentee is George Cooper, who had an operation on his left knee.
The left wing-back is not expected to play again this season, with Adam Lewis brought in on loan from Liverpool to fill his space in the squad.
Lowe said: “There will be no rushing George, there is no need to. I will leave that to Dave (Galley).”