Recovery Road

Strikers Reuben Reid and Deane Smalley have both come into the pre-season build-up carrying injuries, but are progressing along the winding road to recovery. 

Reid had an operation to repair a persistent footy injury during the summer, and manager Derek Adams reports encouraging progress after Argyle's top goalscorer reported back. 

Adams said: "He went to see the consultant and he's got the all clear to start light training which he has done; he is probably two weeks away from starting ball work with the rest of the team. It is good news, we would have obviously hoped it would be sooner and he would have started pre-season with the rest of the team, but it wasn't to be.

"He's obviously going to be two weeks behind the rest of the squad so he'll have that to catch up, but he's working really hard in the gym and he's done a bit of light running at this moment in time. He's progressing." 

Deane Smalley suffered a serious knee injury in training just before Christmas, and is some way away from first team action.

"You have to get him fit, there's nothing you can do," said Adams. "He's had a bad injury and Deane's going to be out until November/December. There's nothing else you can do, you just have to rely on the physio and the healing process to get better."

Adams has been impressed with the fitness and attitude of his side during the opening days of pre-season, as they get used to the new regime, and some new team-mates. 

"The players have trained well," said Derek. "They have come back with good fitness levels, so I'm delighted with the progress we're making over the last four days. The players have responded well, they've had a hard four days, I think that they're in good shape.

"There's a lot of tired bodies, as you have at pre season. They're working hard and their attitudes been fantastic so that will continue over the next weeks until we get the game next week. There is room for improvement as their is at any club at the start of preseason, so we've worked on getting the base fitness into them and then sharpening them up."

Argyle will play their first pre-season game at Elburton Villa on Tuesday, July 14, and will conclude the pre-season schedule at Forest Green Rovers on Friday, July 31.