Plymouth Argyle Set For Major Injury Boost

Plymouth Argyle’s on-loan striker Muhamed Tijani is edging closer to a comeback after being sidelined with a long-term hamstring injury.

The 24-year-old, who joined the Pilgrims on a season-long loan from Slavia Prague, has not featured since late September. However, head coach Miron Muslic has confirmed that Tijani could return to action early next month.

A Crucial Reinforcement for Argyle

Tijani’s physical presence as a target man is something Argyle have been missing, according to Muslic. The Nigerian forward has only made one start and two substitute appearances since arriving but is seen as a vital piece of the puzzle for Argyle’s attacking lineup.

Muslic shared his optimism about Tijani’s return:

“He’s in a good way, and you just see the profile of Muhamed—a big lad, a very physical number nine. That’s exactly the player we miss for our game. A clear target player, like QPR had with Michael Frey. In moments of stress or danger in the build-up, you can always go to the target player. He can keep the ball, he can link up the game, and that’s something we miss. TJ will give us this opportunity.”

Patience Required for Full Integration

While Tijani’s return is a positive development, Muslic urged patience as the forward regains match fitness. “Don’t forget, we have to be patient with him. He was out for almost the whole season, so he will need a little bit of integration time, but we can take a benefit out of him for sure.”

Immediate Striker Shortage

In the meantime, Ryan Hardie remains Argyle’s only recognized striker available for their Championship clash with Burnley. Michael Obafemi, on loan from Burnley, is ineligible to face his parent club, further limiting Muslic’s options. Michael Baidoo, primarily an attacking midfielder, has been deployed as a forward in recent matches but lacks the physicality and hold-up play of a traditional striker.

Tactical Adjustments and Upcoming Matches

Muslic also addressed the halftime substitution of Darko Gyabi in the recent match against QPR, clarifying that it was a tactical decision rather than injury-related. “That was a tactical decision. I also told him he could do it better. The next chance to show me this is Wednesday night against Burnley, so Darko will be there.”

Site Opinion

Tijani’s impending return could not come at a better time for Plymouth Argyle. With the team battling to stay afloat in the Championship, the addition of a powerful target man could add much-needed depth and versatility to their attack. While patience will be necessary as Tijani regains full match fitness, his presence alone may provide a psychological lift to the squad as they navigate a challenging season.

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