Law’s physical development earned him a new deal

THE way that Ryan Law stood up to the physical challenge of playing against a powerful Gillingham side convinced Ryan Lowe that the 21-year-old deserved a new contract at Plymouth Argyle, writes Chris Errington.

Law was at left-back for the last four League One games of the season after returning from a one-month loan spell at promotion-chasing National League club Torquay United.

That included the final game of the campaign, a 1-0 defeat away to Gillingham last Sunday when a youthful Pilgrims’ came up against stronger more experienced opponents.

Lowe acknowledged that while Law still had plenty to learn, he was pleased with the way he had come through the test against Gillingham, whose attacking arsenal included an array of long throw-ins.

“We always knew he had ability,” said the Pilgrims’ boss. “When I have first come down (to Argyle) and we have seen Ryan he was very timid, very quiet. He didn’t open up.

“I wanted him to come out of his shell because he’s a lovely quiet kid. He went to Torquay and Gary Johnson told me he had to rollick him one day and he never looked back from that day.

“I have never really had to give him a rollicking because he hasn’t played much first team football for me, but he has been around training sessions and always held his own.

“I wanted to do what I have done with Adam Randell. I said to him ‘Go out, show me that you can play men’s football, show me that you are tough enough and brave enough’.

“He did that and we brought him back, which was always the plan, and he has played games, and he has held his own.

“He needs to still learn a little bit on the tactical side - getting done over the top and one-twos - but against the physical presence of the Gillingham team that proved to me Ryan Law can have a career in football.

“If that’s with Argyle for the five or six years then brilliant. If it’s with Argyle for the next year or two and then he moves on to bigger and better, excellent.

“If it’s not and he has to drop down, whatever it is, we feel he has definitely got ability to play for Argyle and hence why we have renewed his contract.”

Lowe added: “Him and George Cooper are the only left-sided players in the building as we speak.

“He has got an opportunity to stake a claim, whether it’s left-back, left wing-back, whatever it is, to stake a claim and play more first team games.”