The 14-day Itch

AFTER two weeks without kicking a ball in anger, Carl McHugh says the entire Argyle squad are itching to get back into action.

After a gruelling set of fixtures to start the 2015-16 campaign, the Greens were without a game last weekend, giving the likes of Carl a brief chance to fulfill other important commitments, before focusing in on footballing matters this week. 

“It’s been good,” said McHugh. “It’s kind of given us a chance to regroup, and clear up a few injuries. 

“I went home for a few days to see my family, so it was nice. I obviously haven’t seen them much since pre-season, so that was nice just to get home for a few days.

“Obviously you miss the games at the same time; it seems like ages since we have played a game, so we’re all raring to go for Saturday. 

“You get used to the midweek games and it is tough. It’s been nice to have a little break to recharge the batteries and go again for a massive group of four or five games over the Christmas period, which is massive for our season." 

The gap in games also gives a number of injured Pilgrims an opportunity to rest up and get treatment before the run of Christmas fixtures, and whether it is through returning players or others stepping up to the plate, McHugh is backing the squad to come back stronger in December. 

“It’s part and parcel of the game,” said Carl. “It’s a slog of a season, there’s a lot of games, so it’s inevitable that people are going to pick little knocks and injuries. 

“People are going to have to step up that are going into the team. We’ll just have to stick together and get through it, and hopefully we’ll have everyone back ready for the last stretch and give it a good push. 

“It’s just one of those things, and we just have to overcome it. We’ve got plenty of good players in the squad who can come in, and it’s going to give chances to other people to stake their claim for the rest of the season. We just have to stick together and come through it.”