Plymouth Argyle midfielder Michael Baidoo is facing another spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring setback on his goalscoring return from three months out.

The Ghana international will miss Saturday’s League One trip to Sheffield Wednesday, with head coach Tom Cleverley expecting him to be out for more than a month.

The setback came in Baidoo’s first appearance since his operation at the start of the season, a 4-0 FA Cup first-round win over Alvechurch, according to the Plymouth Herald. Cleverley explained at his pre-match press conference why Argyle wanted the scan looked at again.

“We will get a second opinion as well on the scan just because it’s the same hamstring he had surgery on.”

Cleverley Says Squad Will Rally Around Baidoo

Baidoo came on in the 61st minute at Home Park, with Argyle a goal up against their non-league visitors. Will Evans added his second of the afternoon before Baidoo scored Plymouth’s third, and Ronan Curtis rounded off the win. All four goals came after the break as Argyle pulled away from a side that had held them at half-time.

Cleverley said he could see how much the setback had affected Baidoo. Having been through injury spells himself, the Argyle head coach spoke about how difficult it is for players to be kept away from the game.

“He’s down. There is no way I can dress that up.”

“He has got a good group of team-mates that will rally around him.”

The 27-year-old joined Argyle from IF Elfsborg in January 2025, when the club were in the Championship. He had scored five times for the Swedish side in that season’s Europa League, including the winner against Roma, before completing a then club-record move to Home Park.

Baidoo spent last season on loan with Umm Salal in Qatar, leaving Plymouth supporters with relatively few chances to see him since his arrival. After starting only five games in his first half-season at Home Park, he had the opportunity this term to establish himself in Cleverley’s side. The cup tie offered a first look at how he might fit back into the team.

Plymouth Argyle Short Of Options For Hillsborough Trip

Baidoo is one of six players ruled out of the weekend’s game, with a further three fitness doubts. Leading scorer Bim Pepple, who has eight goals this season, is also unavailable with a calf injury. Centre-back Alex Mitchell and midfielder Tyreeq Bakinson face late fitness checks, while Caleb Watts returned to training on Thursday, according to The Moorlander’s pre-match injury update.

Argyle head to Hillsborough after two cup wins at Home Park, having followed up the Alvechurch result with a 2-1 EFL Trophy victory over Swindon Town on Tuesday. Baidoo and Pepple both missed that game, leaving Cleverley without two attacking options as Plymouth return to league action for the first time since their goalless draw with Reading.