Plymouth Argyle’s top goalscorer, Lorent Tolaj, has picked up another injury, in a devastating blow for the Pilgrims.
After suffering a dead leg against Luton Town last month, Tolaj suffered this latest knock before facing the Hatters on Tuesday evening in the EFL Trophy.
History Repeating Itself
While it isn’t the same injury, that doesn’t soften the blow for one of Argyle’s most important players. The 24-year-old is set for a month on the sidelines after he had a slight muscle tear in training earlier this week. Judging by the Pilgrims’ form during his last absence, this will be a huge loss for Tom Cleverley’s side.
Plymouth dropped points against Mansfield Town before defeats against promotion-chasing Stockport County and Lincoln City. Tolaj returned to the matchday squad at Blackpool before making an appearance off the bench against Leyton Orient. He was back in the line-up on Saturday lunchtime, as the Pilgrims stunned League One leaders Cardiff City, with the former Port Vale man scoring a brace.
Plymouth boss Cleverley gave the unfortunate update when speaking to BBC Radio Devon earlier today.
“For his first game back, the occasion and the opposition, he went absolutely full throttle and got a small muscle tear from the weekend. Cardiff was very safe for him to play and I think his intensity levels meant that he pushed to the absolute maximum, which he can do.
“Every time a footballer steps over that white line there’s risk attached to it and you never want to be over-cautious. We all sit comfortably, the player, the medical team, myself, with the decision for him to play at the weekend and unfortunately he’s not come through it.”
Nail In Play-Off Coffin?
Any conversation of a top-six finish will have seemed extremely far-fetched only last month. Plymouth were bottom of the league in December, with Tolaj missing the first three games of the month after being sent off in a dismal defeat against Northampton Town. He returned with a bang at Doncaster Rovers before Christmas, bagging a hat-trick in their 5-1 victory in South Yorkshire.
He has struck 17 times across all competitions this campaign, including 13 goals in just 22 third-tier encounters. While the Vertu Trophy exit at Kenilworth Road in midweek will have been disappointing, it does mean all eyes are back on the league. As a result of their three-game winning run, the deficit to sixth-placed Huddersfield Town has been reduced to just six points, with a game in hand.
In the absence of the Swiss forward, 9-goal forward Bim Pepple will be required to continue his hot streak in front of goal. He has scored five times in his last four appearances, having a hand in three of the Pilgrims’ five goals against the Bluebirds last Saturday. With a favourable next three fixtures against relegation-threatened outfits, the hope is that Plymouth will be just fine without their talisman.
