Healing Process

ARGYLE manager Derek Adams is hoping that Christmas brings some further relief to the Pilgrims’ injury problems.

With Peter Hartley, Luke McCormick and Deane Smalley having returned to action in recent weeks, Argyle head physio Paul Atkinson is a lot less busy than he has been. Reuben Reid, Graham Carey and Josh Simpson remain frequenters of the treatment room, and at least one of those is not far off a return – maybe in time for Boxing Day’s home Sky Bet League 2 derby.

“They are progressing,” said Argyle manager Derek Adams, before taking the Pilgrims’ Christmas Eve training session.

“We are going to have a look at one of them today – Josh Simpson – possibly for Saturday’s game.  You never know; you never say ‘never’ – the best opportunity right now is Josh, but I don’t rule out anybody.”

Smalley’s two minutes at the end of last week’s 2-1 win at Hartlepool was further confirmation that the striker’s rehabilitation from knee ligament and cruciate injuries is complete.

“He’s trained a lot of sessions now and he hasn’t had any reaction, so that’s been good,” said Derek. “We’ve been training on artificial turf and heavy surfaces and he’s trained every day recently, which is good for him.”

With Harper’s Park drenched, Argyle have been obliged to switch parts of their pre-match preparation away from home-base. It has been an education.

“We have had no choice,” said Derek. “The training park has been waterlogged and it has been very difficult for us to train there so we have been using Devonport High School as well as MarJon.”