Galloway's Shrewsbury Preview
Brendan Galloway says he is feeling good and is hopeful his injury issues are behind him.
After missing around nine months of action because of a knee problem, Galloway steadily returned the first-team fold in the early weeks of the season, and we are once again used to his assured performances of the left side of Argyle’s back three.
There was a concern among supporters when Brendan did not make the squad for Argyle’s recent trip to MK Dons, but he has recovered to play two consecutive 90 minutes and dispelled any concerns we may have about his condition.
“I’m feeling great,” he told Argyle TV. “[Missing MK] was more precautionary than anything. The staff looked after me and now I’m back playing and really looking forward to the next game.
“It takes a few games [to get back to 100%] but now I think I’m in that zone. I’ve been in that mindset probably since the first tackle in training when I came back! You want to get that out of the way, to get the confidence up, and now I don’t think about it. If the tackle is there to be won, I will go in 100% to win it. If a ball is there to be won, a sprint is there to be made, I want to give it 100%.”
Galloway and his team-mates are back in action at Home Park on Tuesday night, when Shrewsbury Town are the visitors. It is the seventh game of what has been a busy month for the Pilgrims, but Brendan is of the typical belief among footballers than playing is preferable to training.
“I love playing,” he said. “I love the support from the fans at the games. It’s a part of the game, to go through spells where there are a lot of games to come by, but it is something that we cherish. We’re all up for it.
“I’m looking forward to [playing Shrewsbury]. It’s another challenge. We’ve recovered well from Saturday and are ready to go again. It’s been a tough month, games coming thick and fast, but we wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Over the last two games, the Argyle back three has comprised Galloway, Nigel Lonwijk and James Wilson, with Dan Scarr serving a suspension, and Macaulay Gillesphey and James Bolton out injured.
Brendan is far from perturbed about forming a new unit when players are inevitably missing from time to time.
“That’s the way football is - you have to be ready,” he said. “Whoever it is knows the responsibility, knows the job that the manager wants us to do. It makes it easier for us, it’s not about who is playing there. As a unit, whoever plays there, we are always solid and always tough to break down.
“We have all learned each other’s games. You know how to be on the pitch as a unit, depending on different personnel.”
The game against Shrewsbury is expected to be watched by another bumper Home Park crowd, and Brendan had some words of thanks for the Green Army who continued to back the team in consistently high numbers.
“It’s amazing to have a sell-out most weeks,” he said. “For the fans to travel, put in all the miles that they do, it is something that we really appreciate, especially when the crowd is rocking and they really are the 12th man, driving us on. We can’t thank them enough.
“Tuesday is going to be the same, we want to put on a performance for them, work hard for them and send them home happy.”
