No Headaches

The midfielder, who had a seven game loan spell that ended after his sending off against Exeter on February 21, has returned to the fold after missing the last three games. 

After starting four successive games in which the Pilgrims were victorious, then watching from afar as Argyle lost their next two matches, he looked a cinch to be recalled once he began a second loan spell. 

However, the performance in beating Northampton 2-0 – and in particular Drew Talbot’s starring role in a midfield three – has led to Olly’s participation from the start being put into more doubt. 

The obvious cliché to proffer at this point, especially given the additional availability of Ollie Norburn and Dom Blizzard for a similar role, is that this would pose John Sheridan a ‘selection headache’. The manager, though, eschews this notion, and obviously relishes the chance to have plenty to choose from. 

“It doesn’t give me a headache,” said Sheridan. “It gives me other options. It strengthens us. 

“(Olly) will add to what we’ve got, and we need options in all departments.

“Anyone who is not in the team should always want to impress me and force their way into the team. 

“Whoever I play, it is always for the benefit of the team and for us to hopefully go on and win the game. With Olly, it’s good to get him back, and he’ll push for a place in the side. 

“He’s been training at Birmingham, and he played an hour the other day. He trained ok this morning, so I don’t see any problems with him. He is ready to play.”

A welcome returnee to the starting line-up in the previous game was Reuben Reid, having missed two games through a foot injury. Given the week between his last appearance and his next, Sheridan is confident Argyle’s leading marksman we be even more raring to go at the Kassam, where he scored two goals last season in a thrilling 3-2 win. 

“He‘s back in training,” said John, of Reuben. “He played last week, which was good. He had an injection which was one of them where he will benefit more two weeks after he had it. 

“He’s improving, he’s fit and he’s available for Saturday.”