Tanner's Home

CRAIG Tanner has returned to Home Park after last season left him with unfinished business.

Tanner played 50 games for the Greens last season, however following defeat in the play-off final, he is back firmly with promotion in mind.

Even though Tanner has been away just a few months, the team has changed a lot, with 14 new players brought in. He has one glance at some of the new boys – from Reading’s bench in the Royals’ 2-0 win over Argyle in the EFL Cup – and will be delighted to link up again with firm friend Oscar Threlkeld. 

Getting to know his newer team-mates, though, is not a task that daunts Craig. 

He said: I’m used to talking to people, I spent most of my days with Oscar (Threlkeld) so I’m sure he will show me back around.  It’s all good!”

Tanner was on the coach travelling with Reading to play Newcastle when he got the call from Argyle boss Derek Adams, and quickly made his mind up to head back to Devon.   

Having trained with his parent club’s first team, he is fighting fit to join Argyle’s ranks once more. 

“Pre-season went really well and I featured quite heavily,” said Craig. “More importantly what I want at the moment is to play in men’s football and play as many games as possible. That’s important in my development right now. 

It could be said that Argyle and Tanner have a symbiotic relationship.  He is looking to bring a lot to the Greens but knows that he also has things to work on so he can progress – “I can hopefully bring width, sometimes a bit of pace, hopefully some skills, one-on-ones, and an end product.  There are also things I need to work on.”

Promotion is in Tanner’s sights as he does not want to have the same experience of Wembley that he had in May.

“We tried to get into the game but we didn’t,” he said. “It took me a while to get over what happened. Hopefully we won’t have to go through that again!”