Fit Club

ONE of the well-known corollaries of an in-form team is that injuries tend to disappear.

With Argyle on an eight-game unbeaten streak in advance of Saturday’s visit of Burton Albion to Home Park, manager John Sheridan has more players available for selection that he can accommodate in the Pilgrims’ squad.  

“All the players are fit and I’ve got a lot of players who want to be a playing and, when they are, want to try and stay in the team,” he said.

“They are working day in day out to try to be involved so, when you tell them they are not involved on a Saturday, it’s something they don’t want to hear, but it’s part of the job.

“I try to look after all the players if I can. I think it’s only fair, when they are training and doing things properly, if I can just change it on the bench, it makes you feel involved a little bit more than when you’re not in the squad.

“I can only pick seven [substitutes]. I try to rotate as much as I can, but I make sure I am covered for if we get an injury. I’ve said it to the players many times, it’s the most difficult part of a manager’s job when you can only pick seven – leaving players out is very hard for me.”

Being covered means that players of similar positions and talents are unlikely to sit side by side on the bench, even if they are valued veteran campaigners like Paul Wotton and Guy Branston.

“They are both good lads, both very good trainers,” said John. “I think they both appreciate it’s no good having them both on the bench – I’ve got to make sure everywhere else is covered. There is no problem whatsoever; they are both very professional.

“They are getting to an age – I’ve been there myself – when you think you should be playing but, unfortunately, the manager doesn’t pick you and has other thoughts. But they have been spot on.”