Caleb Roberts is set to return to Plymouth Argyle, cutting short his loan spell with National League bottom side Truro City.
The youngster was sent to the Cornish side back in February and has played seven times across all competitions for the Tinners, in a season in which relegation back to the National League South becomes increasingly likely.
Roberts Return Confirmed
However, the 20-year-old, who played 12 times for the Pilgrims prior to his move across the Tamar, has been sent back to Home Park, after manager Tom Cleverley confirmed that Brendan Wiredu is set to undergo surgery.
The versatile centre-back has been limited to substitute appearances across recent weeks, with their midweek match against Stevenage seeing the former Fleetwood Town man play just a solitary minute.
Speaking to the club’s media ahead of Argyle’s clash against Huddersfield Town, Cleverley confirmed that Roberts would be back in the first-team plans for the remainder of the season following Wiredu’s blow, and gave updates on three other players also currently on the sidelines.
“It’ll be a late decision on Lorent Tolaj tomorrow, as it will Caleb Watts and Wes Harding.
“On Brendan Wiredu, we’ve made the decision as a club to send him for his surgery. It’s a persistent abdominal issue, and he’s in too much pain to perform. He’ll be out for four weeks. As a result, we’re set to recall Caleb Roberts from his loan.”
Plymouth’s season is going down to the wire, with two points separating them from Reading in sixth place and eight games of their season remaining.
Month To Prove Worth
With Brendan Wiredu succumbing to an injury that it looked like he could handle, Plymouth Argyle have been left desperately short in the middle of the pitch, forcing them into a decision to recall Caleb Roberts from Truro City.
Doing an admirable job during a very tough time for the club at the start of this campaign, the 20-year-old returns to a more unified and forward-looking Home Park, which may be able to bring out the best of him and the rest of the squad as they push for a playoff place.
Now that Wiredu faces a month on the sidelines, now is a prime opportunity for Roberts to prove he can handle more regular game time at the League One level, and give Tom Cleverley some food for thought as to whether their academy star can play a much bigger role in his plans next season.
Facing off against three direct playoff rivals in Huddersfield Town, Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers is a very tough ask for Roberts to deliver immediately, but if he can show some quality in those tough matchups, then his place for the future could be assured.