Cleverley still chasing two first-choice Argyle players

Tom Cleverley conducting a training session
Tom Cleverley is Plymouth’s fifth permanent manager in two seasons [Getty Images]

Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley says he is still searching for two or three new signings.

The Pilgrims have brought in nine new players since being relegated from the Championship in May.

But they have seen 10 mainly experienced players such as Maksym Talovierov, Adam Randell, Ryan Hardie and Mustapha Bundu depart.

The Pilgrims play their first pre-season friendly under Cleverley in Austria on Friday when they meet German side Eintracht Braunschweig.

“There’s probably two or three more still to do,” Cleverley said from the pre-season camp in Austria.

“Certainly two that you’d say would be in the 11, and we all know that the number nine shirt is still available, I don’t think there’s any secrets about that one, so we’re working hard towards that.

“There’s been conversations this week with the sort of tough fixtures that we’ll face in the first eight games you’d like that to happen as soon as possible.”

Cleverley’s search for an experienced centre-forward to replace Hardie, who moved to Wrexham last month, is top of his priority list.

The club have brought in youngsters Bim Pepple and Owen Aseni, who have impressed the new Argyle boss, but he says he still wants to add to his attacking options.

“They’re doing great and developing, and whoever does come in in that position I’m sure those two will be pushing them all the way.

“We have a profile of a nine that we’re looking for. We’ve highlighted two or three that are on our shortlist and we’re all working hard for one of those to materialise.”

Cleverley is rapidly getting to know his new squad, and the week away in Austria has proven a good opportunity for him to bond with players both on and off the training pitch.

The former Watford boss, who succeeded Miron Muslic as Argyle head coach, says he has been impressed with what he has seen from his side so far.

“The character is excellent. The way they can take on information, the quality, I’ve been really pleased with and we feel like we’ll develop that,” Cleverley said.

“There’s a nice group of three or four players who are under-21s, who are on the fringes that we feel like we could develop in six to 12 months to say that they’re first team players, week in, week out.

“I think the early business the club has done, either before I was appointed or after I was appointed has been excellent.

“Without putting too much pressure on, there’s some exciting players that I’m hoping the fans see throughout pre-season.

“It’s been a really good window for me so far. It was all about getting people who didn’t want to be here or part of this next part of the journey out of the door and cutting out those distractions – without sounding too disrespectful towards those players as some of them have been great servants, and bringing in a fresh energy and a real hungry group, which I can see already.”

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