One Missing Piece

JOHN Sheridan is one player away from completing his Argyle squad for the 2013-14 Sky Bet League 2 season.

“There’s only a left-back I feel I need to bring in now,” said John, as he prepared the Pilgrims for Sunday’s visit of Milton Keynes Dons. “If I can get a left-back, I’ll be very pleased with my squad.”

The vacancy has arisen following Onismor Bhasera’s decision not to accept the offer of a new Home Park deal, and the failure of former Pilgrim Ryan Dickson and Martin John to sufficiently impress during pre-season trials.

That leaves teenage first-year pro Ben Purrington as the only natural left-back available to John.

“I’m still enquiring about one or two players,” said John. “Whether they’ll be here for Sunday, I don’t know but I’m waiting for the clubs to come back.

“I think both of them could do a very good job for us. They have been playing for their clubs and [are] two very good players who would be very comfortable playing for us in this division, so I am keeping my fingers crossed and hopefully one of them will take the opportunity to play for us.

“It’ll probably be loan – which I think is only right – someone who has been doing a pre-season at his club.  It’s important that whoever comes in now is fit.

“[Ryan] was a bit short of what I was looking for. He’s an experienced player, so I didn’t want to be messing him about if he could find something else elsewhere. I think it was important to let him know so I could concentrate on bringing someone else in.

“Martin trained really well but, again, I just felt he wasn’t really what I was looking for.

“The search goes on for a player who I hope will benefit us and come and play and make us better.”