The 21st-placed Pilgrims are below Burton in 20th position on goal difference going into their game at Home Park on Sunday (3pm)
Argyle attacking midfielder Caleb Watts at Home Park – Photo: Dave Rowntree/PPAUK
Tom Cleverley believes it would be expecting too much of Caleb Watts for him to start for Plymouth Argyle against Burton Albion at Home Park on Sunday so soon into his return to action from a long-term hamstring injury.
Watts played his first game for the Pilgrims since mid-September when he was a 67th minute substitute in the 1-1 New Year’s Day draw away to Stevenage.
Almost immediately, the 23-year-old came up with the assist for Malachi Boateng to score Argyle’s equaliser after pouncing on a loose ball inside the Stevenage box and cutting it back to his team-mate.
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It was an encouraging return to action for Watts, but after such a long spell out of action as he provided a much-needed attacking spark but the Pilgrims will take a cautious approach with him for now.
Cleverley indicated Watts could be ready to start for Argyle in their Vertu Trophy last 16 tie away to Bristol Rovers on Tuesday, January 13.
The head coach said: “The modern day intensity of the game is you just can’t be too reckless with these players. You can’t give them 20 minutes after four months and expect him to play 90 on Sunday.
“So I would imagine his 25/30 minutes (against Stevenage) can be extended into 45 if that’s what the game presents at the weekend and then you are looking at Bristol Rovers where the shackles will be off.”
Meanwhile, Cleverley confirmed that defender Julio Pleguezuelo would be available for the game against Burton after not being included in the Argyle squad at Stevenage.
Pleguezuelo was substituted near the end of the 1-1 draw at home to Wycombe Wanderers on Monday night and has been dealing with a swollen knee in the past couple of weeks.
Asked about the absence of Pleguezuelo against Stevenage, Cleverley replied: “Load management, what I said last week we have put into action. He will be available for Sunday.”
Argyle defender Julio Pleguezuelo before the League One game against Wycombe Wanderers at Home Park on December 29, 2026 – Photo: Dave Rowntree/PPAUK
While Argyle are 21st in the league table, which is a far from comfortable position for them to be in at this stage of the season, they have picked up 11 points from their last six games.
Cleverley said: “Is it as smooth and comfortable as we would like it to be? No, but in football it never is. The key thing is now we are hard to beat, we are heading in the right direction.”
Burton have had a mixed festive period, firstly drawing 2-2 away to Stevenage on December 20 before a 5-1 home drubbing of Northampton Town on Boxing Day.
However, they have lost their last two games both by 2-0 results, at home to Wigan Athletic on Monday and then away to Reading on New Year’s Day.
Argyle beat the Brewers 4-0 at the Pirelli Stadium in late September but the rematch is likely to be very tightly contested given the lowly league positions of both teams.
The Pilgrims have still only won three times in League One at home this season from 12 attempts and that is hindering their chances of climbing up the table.
Cleverley said: “It’s the final obstacle we are missing. We spoke about the away form which has been corrected, the going behind we have shown more character than we were and that has been corrected.
“The home form is the last piece of that puzzle. Before (Stevenage) we were operating at two points a game for the last five. To take us to two points a game over a much longer, sustained period the home form needs to improve.”
Meanwhile, there has been contact between Argyle director of football Derek Adams and recently-appointed Bristol Rovers boss Steve Evans about the future of Freddie Issaka, who is on a season-long loan to the League Two club from the Pilgrims.
The 19-year-old joined Rovers at the end of the summer transfer window but has made only seven substitute appearances in the league.
Freddie Issaka was one of four deadline day loan arrivals at Bristol Rovers(Image: Isabelle Field/Plymouth Argyle via Getty Images)
He last played in a 4-0 defeat away to Barnet on December 9 and was not in the Pirates’ squad for their 3-0 win away to Shrewsbury Town on New Year’s Day.
Cleverley said: “Derek has got a good relationship with Steve Evans. They have been in contact. We will touch base again and then see what the future of Freddie looks like.”
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