Opoku given every chance to be fit for Pilgrims

JEROME Opoku will be given the best possible chance to be passed fit for Plymouth Argyle’s away League One game against Doncaster Rovers tomorrow.

The on-loan Fulham defender was ruled out of the 2-0 defeat at Northampton Town by an ankle injury.

Opoku was replaced in the side by Sam Woods but he was sent-off in second half stoppage time.

The 22-year-old loan signing from Crystal Palace must now serve a three-match suspension, starting against Doncaster.

Opoku rolled an ankle during the 4-3 victory over Lincoln City at Home Park last Saturday and was substituted in the second half.

His recovery is being dealt with by Argyle physio Dave Galley and John

Lucas, the club’s head of fitness and conditioning.

Manager Ryan Lowe said: “He’s fine, he’s just doing a little bit more work with Dave and John and we will see where we are at with him. We are hoping he’s going to be alright. We can’t make no rash decisions.

“We have got a good enough squad to deal with it. We have got certain players that can move around.

“What we will do is we will make sure Jerome is 100 per cent before we decide on anything.”

Lowe has ruled out the possibility of 35-year-old club captain Gary Sawyer being part of the squad against Doncaster.

Sawyer had an ankle operation after suffering an ankle injury in September

and has not played since then.

“He’s training but he’s a way off,” said Lowe. “Gaz has been out for a long time hasn’t he?

“If I said to Gaz ‘Come on, you are travelling’ he would be over the moon. He would be first there, but I can’t do it to him.

“We have got enough around the squad who we feel can do a job if needed.

“We are not going to throw Gaz in at the deep end, there is no chance. If it was longer or something happened I couldn’t live with myself so we are not going to do that.

“To be fair to Gaz we are getting the right rehabilitation that he deserves.”

Tyrese Fornah, who has played most of this season in midfield, is an option to move into central defence if needed. Lowe said: “Definitely, yeah, because he plays as a centreback type now. I think he has got the vision to do that job if called upon.

“We have got young Ollie Tomlinson as well who has been fantastic around the group.

“I’m brave in my selections and what I try and do, and if I have to make a decision to do something that is a bit different I will do it.

“Look, we will give Jerome the best possible chance and then we will take it from there.

“I feel we have got enough for someone to slot in that middle of the three or, who knows, we could go into a four? There are loads of way to go if Jerome is not fit.”