Sunderland (A) Gyabi's Preview

It has been rather a stop-start introduction to life as a Pilgrim for Darko Gyabi.

That is not a comment on the on-loan midfielder’s qualities - on the contrary, he has settled eye-catchingly well into the Argyle engine room – but rather the unavoidable availability issues he has encountered.

Borrowed by Argyle from Leeds United, when the two sides met in the Emirates FA Cup – twice, because of a replay – Darko had a watching brief as his current side and his parent club battled it out.

They will meet again in Sky Bet Championship action in just over a week’s time, and so Gyabi will again miss out, but there are two league games before that, starting with Sunderland away this Saturday, and Darko is looking forward to getting out there with a green shirt on once more, particularly after the Pilgrims notched a first away win of the season at Swansea City last time out.

“Obviously, it's going to be a big challenge; [Sunderland are a] good team,” he said.

“We've trained well this week. In the game against Leeds, we played well, so we've got momentum. I think we just need to keep that going.

“I think [the win at Swansea] helps with the momentum; it was the first away win in a long time. We can build on that, it gives confidence, then we get in a rhythm.

“[Playing sporadically] is difficult because you want to get in a rhythm yourself, and you want to keep helping the team as much as possible, but I understand, it’s football, so I’ve just got to be ready for whenever I am playing.

“The players around are really good as well, so I think we've got a good enough squad to compete in those games. If I'm not playing, I’m confident that we can get a result.

“It's been good; I'm enjoying it. I just want to keep it up and just keep helping the team as much as possible.

“Everyone's been helpful. Transfer windows are always busy, but the squad that were here before, and the players coming in, I’ve settled in really well, so I think it's been really easy.”