Between now and the end of the transfer window, many decisions will need to be taken. At Plymouth Argyle, the Greens are trying to bolster a team that almost missed out on Championship classification the previous season.
In order to keep their spot in the second division, the Pilgrims required a victory on the last day of the season. They will be hoping to improve on that outcome this time around.
Following his hiring as manager last month, Wayne Rooney, a former Manchester United player, would likely want to assess his squad before deciding which players will stay with the team for the long haul. Some of the team’s talents may be sent to play their seasons elsewhere.
Here, we look at four Argyle players who would benefit from spending some time away from Devon in the upcoming season and explain why it might be wise to make a temporary move.
Tyreik Wright
Before he joined the team in January 2023 from Aston Villa, Tyreik Wright was highly anticipated. The quick wide player had been lighting up League Two with some impressive performances for Bradford City.
However, since moving to Devon, the 22-year-old has only played in eleven games for the Greens, with only six of those appearances coming at the opening whistle. It appears as though that flame has completely extinguished.
In an attempt to find his form again in Yorkshire, the Republic of Ireland youth international was sent back to the Bantams in January of this year. Since then, he has scored twice in 14 games for the team.
Next season, Caleb Roberts will be hoping to play football on the first team on a regular basis, and his new manager will be keen to give him an opportunity.
The young player has never looked more unconfident on the pitch for the Pilgrims, and because Argyle is unlikely to give him any playing time this season, a move elsewhere might be just what he needs at this stage in his career.
When the team returns for preseason training at the beginning of July, Rooney will want to take a look at the player himself. However, if a permanent deal isn’t worked out before September arrives, another loan move might be planned.
Callum Wright
Similar to his namesake Tyreik, Callum Wright has only made 18 league starts since moving to Argyle from Blackpool eighteen months ago, making him something of a periphery player. Wright was born and raised in Devon.
Not that the forward hasn’t had an influence while wearing green; in fact, he scored three more goals that season to help his team cross the finish line and helped the Pilgrims advance to League One with an injury time winner against Shrewsbury Town.
In the Championship, however, things were rather different. In the last 12 months, the 24-year-old has only managed to make eight league starts and has only managed one assist.
| Callum Wright Plymouth Argyle league stats | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| League One 2022/23 | Championship 2023/24 | ||
| Appearances | 20 | 21 | |
| Starts | 10 | 8 | |
| Goals | 4 | 0 | |
| Assists | 4 | 1 | |
| Goal contribution/90 | 0.73 | 0.11 | |
| Source: FBRef | |||
It’s difficult to imagine Wright securing a spot in the attacking lineup for Argyle next season, even if he was called back to the club at the last minute when Neil Dewsnip and Kevin Nancekivell took over first-team duties following Ian Foster’s departure. However, a stint at a League One team should bring out the best in him.
Ben Waine
This is a difficult one to predict because Ben Waine is now one of the most well-liked players at Home Park. Argyle supporters adore his energy and hard ethic on the game, even though his play isn’t always of the highest calibre.
Since joining from Wellington Phoenix in January 2023, the New Zealand international has rarely been given the opportunity to prove his mettle in League One or Championship play, with Ryan Hardie typically starting up top.
Waine must be dying to show what he can do in the English game when given the chance, but it doesn’t seem like the opportunity will be coming to Argyle anytime soon, with just 10 games to his name in the last 18 months.
It might be a different story if he has a successful preseason and receives advice from one of the best strikers in the history of the nation, but right now, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the 23-year-old go out and show what he can do when given game time this season.
A lot will depend on how busy Argyle is in the summer transfer window in terms of adding strikers to the team. Waine’s spot in the lineup will be in jeopardy if they add one or two strikers with a Championship background.
Jack Matthews
Along with another young player Josh Bernard, Jack Matthews is among the most recent academy alums to sign a professional contract with Argyle, having done so earlier this month.
After rising through the youth ranks, the defender has been a mainstay for the under-18 team. He has also filled in at several spots during the season as needed.
The 18-year-old experienced the Home Park atmosphere for the first time when he entered as a late replacement in extra time during the Pilgrims’ FA Cup replay loss to Leeds United earlier in the year, marking his first appearance on the first team.
Earning a spot in the defensive line could prove difficult this season for the adolescent, as Dan Scarr, Lewis Gibson, and Brendan Galloway are all now ahead of him in the pecking order. It might be ideal for his development to be loaned out to a local team.
Matthews could benefit from a move to a team like Plymouth Parkway, Torquay United, or even Dorchester Town to build up his minutes in the men’s game and return to the fold next season with plenty of experience under his belt after joining Argyle in their pre-season camp in Spain and participating in additional matches in the build-up to the season.
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