Argyle hope to be able to call on captain Edwards
Skipper in contention to play a part in Pilgrims’ final day decider against MK Dons
PLYMOUTH Argyle captain Joe Edwards could be available for the crucial League One encounter against MK Dons at Home Park on Saturday lunchtime.
The 31-year-old has missed the last three matches due to a sprained ankle which he suffered near the end of the 0-0 draw away to Burton Albion on April 9, with his place at right wing-back taken by Steven Sessegnon.
Edwards was working with Argyle’s medical staff at Harper’s Park yesterday with the aim of being fit to join in full training with the rest of the Pilgrims’ squad today.
Sessegnon has performed well while Edwards has been sidelined but it would be a boost for Argyle if
Edwards was able to be involved in some way against MK Dons.
It is a vital match for both sides, with sixth-placed Argyle trying to secure a play-off place while MK Dons are third and still have a chance of automatic promotion, provided they win at Home Park and Rotherham United lose away to Rotherham United.
Manager Steven Schumacher said: “Joe will do a bit more with the physios today and see how it goes. If he gets through this then he will be with us tomorrow.”
Edwards travelled with the Argyle squad to the 1-1 draw away to tabletopping Wigan Athletic last weekend even though he had no chance of playing in the game.
Schumacher said: “He’s such a good influence on everybody. We had him at Wigan when he wasn’t available because of how good he is around the dressing room. If he can be involved for us, brilliant.”
Argyle will definitely be without midfielder Panutche Camara for a second successive game due to a hamstring injury he picked up during the 0-0 draw with Sunderland on Easter Monday.
The Pilgrims have their 56th competitive match of the season tomorrow so, not surprisingly, one of the aims for Schumacher this week is making sure the players have as much energy as possible for it.
He said: “It has been pretty much normal but you have to taper the timings down a little bit on the training sessions but the intensity has still been the same.
“That’s the best way for us, it’s how we play at our best. If we train the way we play then we are usually pretty good.
“Today will be business as usual, and we will go through the in possession stuff that we need to do against MK and the out of possession work, which is normal practice for us.
“We will be mindful of the timings of it all but we have still got to get the information in. Tomorrow, we will do a bit more, nice and sharp, and work on our set pieces, and we are ready to go.”