Huge Bost:Five Plymouth Argyle first team players will not play in the FA Cup replay against Leeds United

Five Plymouth Argyle first team players will not play in the FA Cup replay against Leeds United

The Pilgrims will attempt to make it to the FA Cup final sixteen for the first time

since the 2006–07 campaign when they play the fourth round replay at Home Park tomorrow night

Ian Foster downplayed Plymouth Argyle’s five player absence for tomorrow night’s FA Cup fourth round

replay at Home Park against Leeds United, saying he can still field a competitive squad.

Injuries sideline Mustapha Bundu (calf) and Jordan Houghton (ankle), and three

January additions—Alfie Devine, Adam Forshaw, and Darko Gyabi—are also out.

Devine and Forshaw are both cup-tied after making appearances for Port Vale and Norwich City, respectively, earlier in

the competition, while Gyabi is on loan from Leeds and is not permitted to play against his parent club.

Adam Randell, who gave the Pilgrims their equalizer in their 1-1 draw at

Elland Road on January 27 to force a replay, will undoubtedly be one of the players Foster starts. The midfielder

participated in Saturday’s 1-0 Championship victory away to Swansea City as a second-half substitute.

Caleb Roberts, 18, who started the cup match at Elland Road, could start in

central midfield alongside Randell now that Forshaw and Gyabi are out. Club captain Joe Edwards is also a possibility.

Despite the fact that Argyle is now short on numbers, Foster said, “We don’t worry

about that.” We have the ability to field a strong team, and the new players have been eager to contribute.

We were always going to rotate the team at some point because we play a lot of games in a short amount of time—seven

in 22 days—but it’s not to undermine the team or take advantages in a specific competition.

“Some of the changes are enforced, some aren’t, but we are doing it so we can

progress and hopefully give a good account of ourselves.”

Academy-made item Roberts started for Argyle against Leeds in his first non-EFL

Trophy game. “Caleb was smashing at Elland Road, he did really well,” Foster

stated. He did a great job managing the atmosphere amidst the 35,000 people up there.

We all found the first half challenging, but he persevered. Like many of the

young players, he has trained well since I joined the football team, which is really satisfying.”

For Argyle recently, Edwards has primarily played as a wing-back or full-back, but the 33-year-old has lined up in central midfield before.

I think the beauty of this group of players – the players I have inherited and some that have come in – is they have got the

ability to dual role,” stated Foster, setting aside any speculation about his replay team selection.

Joe is one of those players, and believe me when I say that these players are

priceless to a head coach. Joe may need to be used in different positions, and we

will adjust accordingly. With a small squad, it is fantastic that we have so many players who can accomplish that.”

The victor of the Home Park replay will play away in the fifth round against

either Chelsea or Aston Villa, who play on Wednesday night at Villa Park.

KVIBEZSPORT