Squad Builder

DEREK Adams intends to use his whole squad as Argyle hunt down a place in Sky Bet League One.

The final third of the Pilgrims’ League Two season begins this Saturday, when Argyle visit promotion rivals Luton Town – the first of six games in 18 days which will test, not only the ability of Argyle’s squad, but also its depth.

So far, signs have been promising. Derek’s January transfer-window strengthening has bolstered his options, especially up front.

“It was important that we took in the quality of player that was going to take us to the next level,” said Derek, “and we have seen that with the performance level. The performance level has definitely upped.

“Ryan Taylor and [Matty] Kennedy have come in and have done really well. The likes of Jordan Slew, Jake Jervis and Craig Tanner have not been able to stay in the team because of how well they have done.”

With such an intensive period coming up, Jordan, Jake and Craig can expect more game-time, and Derek believes his injured quintet of Arnie Garita, David Ijaha, Gary Miller, Antoni Sarcevic and Connor Smith will also all have an important role to play between now and May.

He said: “The only one [who will not] is possibly Ryan Brunt – he just needs to up his training regime – but I think the rest of them will play again.

“We’ll rotate the squad in a way where some players will play some weeks and other players will play other weeks. It’s about keeping a freshness, especially to the forward line.

“It’s competition for places, and that’s what you need at this time of the season.”

As for Saturday’s trip to Bedfordshire. “We’ve got a few knocks that we are just assessing,” said Derek, “but that’s the nature of things at this stage of the season; it will be roughly the same squad.”