Injury Scales

THE good news outweighed the bad news on the Argyle injury front going into Saturday’s Devon Expressway Derby.

Nineteen-year-old defender Curtis Nelson has recovered from a leg injury that has seen him miss the Pilgrims’ last 10 matches and is back in the squad for the visit of Exeter.

Striker Warren Feeney, 31, who has been sidelined for all but the first nine minutes of John Sheridan’s 12-game managerial spell, is back in training.

The Northern Ireland international broke a bone in his foot in the opening minutes of John’s debut, the 2-1 home victory over Morecambe, and has been a frustrated spectator ever since.

“He’s been out a long time,” said John. “He’s got to be careful, but he’s glad to be back training and he’s good to have around.

“It’s about getting his match-fitness now. Another week, or two weeks training, and he’ll be a lot fitter.”

On the debit side, midfielder Jamie Lowry’s miserable season is over. The summer signing from Chesterfield is suffering his second ankle injury of the season, having missed the start of the campaign after injuring himself in a pre-season friendly at Truro.

“Jamie had a scan and, by all accounts, he will be out  for the rest of the season,” said John, who also had the 26-year-old Cornishman under him when he was manager of Chesterfield.

“There’s nothing worse. It’s not the lad’s fault, but he keeps getting all these different injuries which are keeping him on the sidelines.”