Waiting for the Boat to Come In

...successful dealings in the January transfer window and is optimistic that he will be able to build on that by bringing Crystal Palace midfielder Hiram Boateng back to Home Park.

The 20-year-old Londoner was an integral part of the Argyle team in the first three months of the season before injury curtailed his loan stay at Home Park well before its expiry in January. 

Derek will now try to re-secure Hiram’s services during the loan transfer window when it opens next week, and is hopeful that the progress Boateng made during his first Pilgrimage will aid his attempts.

“I think there is a good chance of him coming back to us before the end of the season,” said Derek. “He is a player we have missed, from the point of view being in the dressing-room – we have missed having him around – and we have missed the competition for the place, as well.

“He’s in the squad for Crystal Palace’s game [on Tuesday night]. He’s done particularly well with us and he’s come back from injury, so he’s into their match-day squad.

“[Midfield]’s an area where we’ve become a wee bit weaker, but we have got Graham Carey who can play in there. When we get Hiram Boateng back with us – hopefully – he can play in there with Carl McHugh, Oscar Threlkeld, Josh Simpson, so we have got five central midfield players.”

Otherwise, Derek is content with his business in the January window, having brought in a striker and defender as well as letting some of his squad out to new pastures.

He said: “I have been able to strengthen in the window, as I said I would. We have taken in Daniel Nardiello; we have taken in Jordon Forster; Deane Smalley and Lee Cox have moved out; and Aaron Bentley has moved out. We have made it a tighter squad and taken two boys from other clubs.

“I made it obvious that I didn’t want anybody to leave and we didn’t really get to a stage when we were going to have to allow anybody to leave.

“We have got very good competition for places now. I think that, going into the last part of the season, it is important that you have that. We have got players coming back from injury; we have added to the squad; and that adds to a very good group of players.”