Confirmed: Wayne Rooney reveals big Plymouth Argyle boost ahead of Watford clash
Defensor Lewis Gibson will be available for selection for Friday night’s match against Watford at Home Park, according to confirmation from Plymouth Argyle manager Wayne Rooney.
The defender has missed the last four Greens Championship games due to a reported thigh injury that has kept him out of action for the past several weeks. However, he is expected to return to training and be included in the matchday squad for the weekend.
The former Newcastle United player joined captain Joe Edwards, Ibrahim Cissoko, Brendan Galloway, Conor Hazard, and Muhamed Tijani on the long-term absentee list, adding to Rooney’s lengthy list of players out of action at the moment.
The 24-year-old has established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet when healthy and available, so with his comeback, Argyle will have a reliable player in the middle of the backline ready for action against the Hornets.
Wayne Rooney confirms Lewis Gibson availability for Watford encounter
Everyone of the green persuasion will be happy to see Gibson return to the team after he played every minute of the Championship season prior to his tragic injury, and his relationship with summer recruit Kornel Szucs is only getting stronger.
Because of his absence, Rooney has forced to use players like Julio Pleguezuelo and Victor Palsson to play alongside the Hungarian on the backline. Pleguezuelo did a great job, earning his first league minutes of the season.
Plymouth Argyle hopes that one thing motivates Andre Grey to play against Watford FC.
Nothing would please the striker more than to score this weekend against his old team.
In his first game of the season, Pleguezuelo, a former Arsenal player, led the Greens to a 3-3 tie against Preston after rallying from a 3-0 hole. He also contributed to a 1-0 victory against Portsmouth and a 1-1 draw at Derby County.
With the Argyle manager confirming the news in a pre-match press conference, Gibson’s return will undoubtedly give Rooney a decision to make before the encounter against the Hornets.
“He has trained the last couple of days, so he should be available,” Rooney stated on the team’s official social media page. The question of whether he begins is another. We’re still a few weeks away from Conor Hazard and Brendan [Galloway]. Joe [Edwards] and TJ [Tijani] have longer-term goals.
| Lewis Gibson Plymouth Argyle Championship 24/25 stats (FBRef) | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 11 |
| Starts | 11 |
| Minutes played | 990 |
| Pass completion | 88.0% |
| Blocks | 21 |
| Interceptions | 10 |
| As of 20/11/24 | |
“He has to come back in and trained well. It gives us another option. He’s had a fantastic season – of course, you have decisions to make. I’m delighted he’s back fit.”
Plymouth Argyle still face injury concerns until the new year
Gibson’s return to action this weekend will be greatly appreciated, but the Greens still have many players out until the new year. Captain Edwards and loanee Cissoko are two of the most recent players to be crammed into the Home Park medical room.
The Argyle captain was sidelined by a hamstring tendon injury that has kept him out until 2025 after he stumbled while attempting to stop Preston from scoring their third goal in the draw in Devon last month.
The Dutchman, who has made a significant impact since joining on loan from Toulouse in the summer and has already scored three goals in his 10 games this season, will also be difficult for the Greens to accept after Cissoko’s [shown] miss.
The 21-year-old has also been sidelined until January due to a hip ailment, while both attacker Tijani and keeper Hazard have suffered from their own severe problems.
After been reduced to the bare bones recently, Rooney is keen to welcome more players back into the fold. Galloway also sustained an ankle injury when travelling with Zimbabwe last month, but he should be back in a few weeks.
Gibson’s participation will be a big help when the Greens face the Hornets and try to continue their five-game league winning streak in front of their home supporters.
