Take Your Pick

FOR every Sky Bet League 2 game, team selection is a tricky task for John Sheridan.

However, when you are selecting your 11 for the final home league game of the season, knowing that a win could move you a step closer to leaving the division, it must feel even tougher. 

Ahead of Argyle’s crucial clash against Tranmere Rovers at Home Park on Saturday, manager John Sheridan has been assessing his squad, and before he selects the 11 to do the business, he must evaluate those in the treatment room. When venturing in, he will find a trio of unavailable midfielders. 

“Olly Lee is not available and Coxy (Lee Cox) is not available," said John. "Coxy’s got a bit of a quad strain, it happened in training on Tuesday, he felt a bit tight, I think he’s had it before on and off so he’s not going to be available. 

“[Olly Lee] has got a groin injury; he’s back at Birmingham getting treatment. He’s not fit, plus if we do get in the play-offs, Olly won’t be available, so it looks like he won’t be involved in the remaining two games.”

Youngster River Allen has also suffered a knee injury whilst on-loan at Truro City, and so is not available for Argyle or the White Tigers. 

Of River, John said: “That’s the most disappointing thing, he’s gone there to try and get one or two games. We sent him for a scan, and I don’t think the injury is as serious as we first thought which, is good news for River, but it’s a shame because he would have got a few games under his belt.”

With a number of Argyle players reported to have been suffering through niggling injuries, Sheridan is taking a black and white approach to player selection.     

He said: “I pick the team, I pick the players. I ask everyone are they are fit, if I don’t get a reaction then I assume everyone’s fit and I pick the team - that’s the way I go about things.

“If they are injured I expect them to be honest and tell me they are injured, if no one tells me that, I assume everyone is 100% fit. Once I get that news I will pick a team that will hopefully win us the game. 

“Everyone will find out at two o clock [on Saturday] what the team’s going to be and hopefully it will be a winning team.

"That’s all I’m worried about."