Lowe is wary of fatigue for Pilgrims

PLYMOUTH Argyle manager Ryan Lowe believes player fatigue is becoming an issue for a lot of teams as the condensed 2020/21 season enters its final two months.

The campaign started six weeks later than usual due to the Covid19 pandemic and that has resulted in a very busy schedule.

Argyle, for example, are currently in the midst of playing nine League One games in only 29 days.

Lowe said: “I think it’s catching up with a lot of teams now. We are quite lucky, we have got no injuries.

“We have got everyone fit so we are in a good spot, but you want to make sure you rest and recover the lads.”

Argyle’s 18-goal top scorer Luke Jephcott was taken out of the starting line-up by Lowe for the 4-3 victory over Lincoln City last Saturday to give him a break, although he played as a substitute.

It was the same with the versatile Conor Grant when the Pilgrims went to Northampton Town on Tuesday night.

The 25-year-old came off the bench during the second half of the 2-0 defeat after playing regularly over recent months.

Striker Niall Ennis, a January transfer window signing, was also rested as Jephcott returned to the side alongside Ryan Hardie in attack.

Lowe said: “Conor Grant has played more or less every minute of every game. He’s tired, so I chose to leave him out.

“And Niall has been struggling with his back and getting whacked. He hasn’t played this many games for a while so you try and rotate it.”

Grant has made a total of 30 starts and seven substitute appearances this season. He has scored three goals and provided a team-best eight assists.

Argyle have five more matches to play by March 20, starting against sixth-placed Doncaster Rovers tomorrow.