Wayne Rooney drops Plymouth Argyle update including fresh Morgan Whittaker news
Ahead of the forthcoming match against Oxford United at Home Park, Wayne Rooney has given his most recent report on the current Plymouth Argyle roster.
In his pre-game press conference, which was carried by the club’s media via X, the Liverpudlian was also able to give a crucial timeline for when the Pilgrims will be allowed to use their star, Morgan Whittaker, once more.
Pressure is still mounting on Rooney following consecutive away thrashings at the hands of Norwich City and Bristol City, with the combined scores from those two games reading 10-1 to the opposition. Argyle has only won once in their last nine Championship games, and that victory came on home soil against Portsmouth on November 5.
Plymouth Argyle: Norwich City, Bristol City capitulations could come back to haunt Wayne Rooney
The Greens have the worst away record in the Championship, with goals being shipped at an alarming rate
Wayne Rooney provides fresh Plymouth Argyle update involving Morgan Whittaker
The Hungarian defender Kornel Szucs was the first of four players identified by Rooney in his news conference when it came to availability, including the previously mentioned Whittaker.
After making his Championship debut against QPR on August 24th, the summer signing had started 15 straight league games for the Green Army before being left off the team for last weekend’s 4-0 loss at Ashton Gate.
The Argyle manager does think he might be able to rejoin the team for Des Buckingham’s team’s visit, though.
Rooney said, “Kornel, potentially, might be available this week.”
“When a player is fit for the next game after missing the previous one, it’s annoying. We’ve noticed a few minor aches and pains over the past few weeks,” he continued.
During Plymouth’s 2-2 draw with Watford on November 22, Whittaker was substituted out after 68 minutes due to a toe injury.
Additionally, Rooney has given a timeline for the 23-year-old’s anticipated return to play after missing the previous two games.
Morgan’s absence will now last until January. It’s his toe. “It will keep him out, but he doesn’t need surgery,” he added.
| Morgan Whittaker’s Championship Stats – 24/25 | Total |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 15 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Big Chances Created | 2 |
| Pass Completion Ratio (%) | 75 |
| Key Passes per Game | 0.9 |
| All Stats as per Sofascore (Correct as of 05/12/24) | |
There was some encouraging news about the possible availability of Conor Hazard and Brendan Galloway despite this specific setback.
Since suffering an ankle injury in October while playing for Zimbabwe on international duty, Galloway has been sidelined, and Hazard was substituted in the last moments of the team’s 1-0 loss against Stoke City at home on August 31.
Rooney said, “I hope that Brendan and Conor will return this weekend.”
Mixed feelings for Wayne Rooney ahead of Oxford United encounter
The fact that Whittaker will be out of the lineup for the rest of the holiday season, when several important games are approaching and Rooney is anxious to get as many points as possible, is obviously a huge setback for Argyle.
With Ibrahim Cissokho, a fellow creative force, already out until the New Year, it raises the issue of where the team’s primary source of goals and inventiveness will come from given that they have only averaged one goal per game this season.
But given the recent defensive setbacks and previous goalkeeping injury issues, Galloway and Hazard would undoubtedly be warmly received by the Pilgrims defence as they aim for just their second shutout of the season in what many will consider a six-pointer at Home Park.
