Plymouth Argyle

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Plymouth Argyle could be without five of the squad that lost to Exeter City last week for the trip to Mansfield on Tuesday night.

Argyle will be without suspended Matthew Sorinola and Alex Mitchell is absent on compassionate grounds.

Joe Edwards and Bradley Ibrahim face late fitness tests while Ayman Benarous will be missing for up to six weeks after sustaining what head coach Tom Cleverley described as a '"freak training injury" to his knee.

"It's an action that he would have done tens of thousands of times opening his knee out a little bit to receive the ball and something's clicked in there which has caused a little bit of ligament damage," Cleverley said.

"It's disappointing for him because after the last couple of performances and the way he's been training he would have featured a lot in a few games."

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Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley says his side have to be more defensively solid after their 2-1 loss at home to AFC Wimbledon.

The Pilgrims took an early lead through Lorent Tolaj, but goals either side of half-time saw the Dons leave Devon with three points.

It was the second successive game that Argyle have given up a lead at home after the 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic.

The defeat - Argyle's seventh in 12 League One games - sees the Pilgrims slip to one place above the relegation zone.

"We need to learn how to be able to keep clean sheets the dirty way," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon.

"You look at the last two games, Wigan and Wimbledon, taking the lead in both games at home and even if you're not at your best, you should find a way.

"I don't feel like either team have opened us up, I don't think either team has done enough to score a combined three goals against, but we find ourselves losing a game.

"After the goal I expected us to kick on a lot more and we didn't, so we need to tap into the mentality of when you've got the foot on somebody's neck you need to go for the kill and we didn't do that well enough.

"We're a little bit too easy not to crack at the minute and we've suffered from it again."

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Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Conor Hazard is relishing the chance to try and reach the World Cup with Northern Ireland.

The 27-year-old was part of the squad for their win over Slovakia and narrow loss to Germany over the past international break.

It leaves Northern Ireland knowing wins over Slovakia and Luxembourg next month would secure at least a play-off place for next year's tournament in the United States.

"We know we have a big opportunity coming up next month now," he told BBC Radio Devon.

"I think we need a win, and four points would be ideal to try and get ourselves secure.

"Going to the World Cup or a major tournament like that, not many people get to experience that, so I'm sure everyone's in the same boat where we'll be trying everything we can."

Hazard has returned to fitness after missing four months with a knee injury suffered while playing for his country against Denmark in June.

It was the goalkeeper's second major injury in two campaigns at Home Park, having missed three months last season after undergoing ankle surgery.

"I haven't been very lucky with the injury front, obviously two contact injuries which were unavoidable," he said.

"It was a tough time in my career trying to get back from that, especially after getting a good run of games.

"But I'm back fit and ready to go."

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Plymouth Argyle have added Mike Stowell to Tom Cleverley's coaching staff.

The former Leicester City caretaker manager has joined the Pilgrims as goalkeeper coach.

Stowell, 60, coached the Foxes' goalkeepers during their historic Premier League title-winning campaign in 2015-16 under Claudio Ranieri.

He also spent time at Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel and was most recently with Bristol City Women.

Plymouth are 18th in League One with 13 points from their opening 11 games.

"Mike impressed us all greatly with his knowledge and experience during the recruitment process," Cleverley told Argyle's website., external

"He is someone I know following my loan spell with Leicester City as a player, and he will add real expertise to my technical staff, both from a goalkeeping and wider coaching perspective.

"I was insistent in the summer on bringing the right players to Argyle, and it is no different with staff members. I am really pleased we have managed to bring a coach of Mike's calibre to the club."

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Plymouth Argyle manager Tom Cleverley says he was relieved to see Lorent Tolaj's 'Panenka' penalty go in during the 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic.

The 23-year-old Swiss striker dinked the ball into the net from 12 yards to give the Pilgrims a 1-0 lead at Home Park.

The risky manoeuvre with 20 minutes to go gave the summer signing his sixth goal in as many games for Argyle - to the delight of the home crowd - although Fraser Murray's equaliser meant the hosts had to share the points.

"He's got a great goalscoring record," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon.

"I think that makes him unpredictable, certainly as a penalty taker.

"Would I have done that on the windiest day of the year? I'm not sure I would, but it was executed very well, I must say."

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Brendan Wiredu says overcoming the abuse he received after his Plymouth Argyle debut has made him stronger.

Argyle condemned online abuse the 25-year-old suffered after the 3-1 home loss to Barnsley in the opening game of the season.

Wiredu scored an own goal, made a mistake that led - in part - to Barnsley's second goal and was booked for an on-pitch scuffle before being substituted at half-time.

But he has since been in good form as part of a successful back three in defence, after beginning the season in midfield.

"Throughout my career I've not really had a period like that; everything's been smooth sailing and it was going to happen sooner or later," he told BBC Radio Devon.

"But I'm grateful that it's happened to me because it's made me a stronger, better person mentally.

"Looking back at it, I'm glad that it's happened because going forward it's going to put me in good stead."

Wiredu has started every one of Plymouth's current run of five wins in their past six games, and the former Fleetwood Town player says he feels he is starting to put in consistent performances.

"I always believe in myself and I hope that now I'm showing what I can do and what I was brought to the club to do," he added.

"I wasn't brought here for a token gesture, I was brought here for a reason.

"I feel like now I'm getting in a position where I'm able to show what I'm doing and I'm just trying to keep that consistent level."

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Plymouth Argyle have appointed Paul Berne as the club's new chief executive.

The 51-year-old succeeds Andrew Parkinson, who stepped down last month, and will officially begin his new role on 1 January.

Berne has been a director of the League One club since 2019 and was most recently chief executive at Trewithen Dairy.

He has also worked in finance roles for Ginsters and Samworth Brothers.

"Paul brings a wealth of experience to the role having held several high-level positions across a range of sectors," chairman Simon Hallett told the club website.

"He will bring a freshness and energy to the role that will lift the whole club as we continue the rebuild both on and off the pitch."

Berne added: "Having been involved at board level since 2019, I have seen first-hand the transformation the club has been under both on and off the pitch under Andrew's leadership.

"I now have the opportunity to continue that work using my background and expertise, and help Argyle continue to excel.

"The club has huge potential, and it is now my job to help realise our ambitions to be a sustainable Championship club."

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Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley says he is not concerned by Freddie Issaka's lack of game time in his loan spell at Bristol Rovers.

The Wales youth international winger has made just two late substitute appearances for the Pirates since moving to the League Two side on transfer deadline day.

The 19-year-old has a season-long deal at the Memorial Stadium and has played 38 times in all competitions for Argyle during his career.

"Freddie's been here since eight, nine years old, and Freddie's probably always been viewed as the young player, the academy product, the star boy coming through," Cleverley said.

"You can get wrapped in bubble wrap a little bit. Freddie's out there now, he's got to go prove to a manager, he's got to go knock on a manager's door and say 'why am I not playing? What have I got to do to do that?'

"He's got to do that. He's got to come on and be reliable if they need a goal. It's all a big part of Freddie's learning. Not every loan move is the perfect loan move.

"I have no reservations about sending a player somewhere where it's going to be tougher."

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Tom Cleverley says he is pleased his two-match touchline ban had no effect on his Plymouth Argyle side.

Saturday's 4-0 win at Burton Albion saw the Pilgrims produce their biggest away win in the league since a 4-0 victory at Fleetwood Town in February 2014.

Cleverley watched from the stands after serving the first of his two-game suspension for his red card at Luton Town earlier this month, which also cost the Pilgrims boss a £4,000 fine.

In his absence, assistant Damon Lathrope and long-serving Argyle coach Kevin Nancekivell were in the dugout.

"I'm gutted I wasn't on pitch level, but taking a back step sometimes and actually see it unfold exactly how you planned it is really rewarding for a coach," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon.

"Damon and Nance are more than capable hands to manage things at pitch level and it was a great performance.

"Damon's a fantastic young coach, he's got a hell of a bright future in the game, and the nice balance we've got Nance there who knows the club inside out, he's been there, he's done that.

"The advantage is I get a better view, I can see the distances, I can see the shape better.

"I wouldn't choose to, like Richie Wellens (Leyton Orient boss) does, but our performance levels will not drop because I'm not there.

"The work in the week's been excellent, the players delivered it and they deserve a lot of credit."

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Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley says the return of Northern Ireland goalkeeper Conor Hazard is a "huge plus" for his side.

The 27-year-old had not played since injuring his knee while playing for his country against Denmark in June.

Cleverley said he had been deliberating whether to bring back the former Celtic goalkeeper or keep faith with summer signing Luca Ashby-Hammond, who played in Argyle's first 12 games as Hazard recovered.

But Cleverley opted to pick Hazard, who kept a clean sheet as the Pilgrims registered their biggest league win of the season so far, running out 4-0 victors at Burton Albion.

"The last league game we looked like we lacked leadership on the pitch, so he brings that," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon.

"It was always going to be a physical game, a direct game here and when you're six foot six you help there.

"It was the game for Conor to come back in. I thought he was excellent, he brought those things that we've been missing.

"Luca will continue to push him to the levels that he needs to keep his shirt, but it's a huge plus for us to have Conor back and a clean sheet."