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Plymouth Argyle are assessing the fitness of Conor Grant ahead of their League One game against Charlton Athletic at Home Park on Saturday.

The 26-year-old did not travel to the north-east of England with the rest of the Pilgrims squad for their 2-1 defeat at Sunderland last Saturday due to a pelvic problem.

Steven Schumacher, who will be taking charge of Argyle for the first time at Home Park as manager, will not be rushing Grant back so he can be involved against Charlton.

The left wing-back, who is the Pilgrims' third top scorer this season with five goals in all competitions, will only be included in the squad as long as he is fully fit.

Schumacher said: "We are going to have a little look at him today and see how he goes before training, and we will then just assess it from there.

"It's still a long way to go, we have got half a season to go. Conor has had a little bit of a niggle but he is in a much better place than what he was last week.

"I won't be putting him under any pressure. If he's right, he's right. If he's not, we will deal with it."

With Grant absent against Sunderland, Schumacher replaced him at wing-back with midfielder Ryan Broom but that did not work out well.

Argyle were 2-0 down inside 13 minutes and the Pilgrims' boss acted soon afterwards by swapping Broom and Joe Edwards in the wing-back positions.

Schumacher said: "With the way the game panned out it was a tough start for Ryan Broom, who played left wing-back.

"I made the decision to quickly switch that over and Joe Edwards did great out there. We have got a squad and we have got a few players who can play in those positions.

"So obviously now it's up to me to get that decision right and I will try my best to do that."

George Cooper, who has missed most of this season due to long-term injury, and 22-year-old academy product Ryan Law are other options who can play at left wing-back.

Meanwhile, Schumacher has admitted that defender James Bolton could be added to Argyle's squad against Charlton.

Bolton has yet to make an appearance for the Pilgrims since signing from Portsmouth in the summer after suffering an ankle injury at the start of pre-season.

He was named among the nine substitutes for the 2-1 FA Cup second round win away to Rochdale on December 5.

However, Bolton did not make the bench for the subsequent two League One games, the 1-1 draw away to MK Dons and the defeat at Sunderland.

The 27-year-old did take part in an in-house game on Wednesday and scored a goal as he showed up well.

Schumacher said: "He has been out a long time and he's just trying to get back to normal and get up to the levels that he wants to get to.

"He's going to be a good addition to the squad if we can have him involved. I think he will be ready to play minutes if needed.

"But we can't expect him to come in and be at his peak performance if he has been out for five or six months. You have got to be patient with players who have been injured."

Schumacher added: "I would definitely consider putting him in the squad for Saturday, if we needed him for 10 minutes, half an hour, 45 minutes.

"He's more than capable, but he's going to have good days and he's going to have bad days. That's just what happens when you have been injured."

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Ryan Hardie is hoping this weekend’s game against Charlton Athletic at Home Park can be the springboard for Argyle to get back to winning ways in Sky Bet League One.

Last month, the Addicks ended the Greens’ 16 game unbeaten run with a 2-0 win at the Valley and since then the Pilgrims have failed to win in the league.

Ryan feels Saturday is the perfect opportunity to turn the ship around and get some revenge for the defeat in South London.

He said, “We’re going into the game keen to get the points and are wanting to give these fans something to shout about again.

“The results of late haven’t been good enough but we’re not getting battered, we’ve always been in the games.

“It’s only really been a bad week and a half, and we have to make sure we can turn the ship and get back to winning ways.

“When we went on that unbeaten run, we knew the things we were doing right, and we just have to get back to doing that.”

A lot has happened in the four weeks since Argyle’s trip to the Valley. The Greens have progressed to the third round of the Emirates FA Cup, they have played four times in the league and had a change of manager.

It has been a lot to take in for the players in such a short space of time, but Ryan is keen to look forward and be excited about what is to come.

He said, “It’s been a pretty positive start - MK Dons was a positive result and the response in the second half [against Sunderland] was good as well.

“We have to look forward and keep working towards getting some points which will start this weekend.

“It’s been a bit of change but it's somebody that we know and knows the style of play that we want.

“It’s been really comfortable coming to training every day.”

A big positive in recent weeks has been the return to first team action of striker Niall Ennis.

The former Wolves man played his first minutes of the season in the Emirates FA Cup win over Rochdale at the start of the month and has played in the last two league games.

Having Niall back in the squad certainly put a smile on Ryan’s face.

He said, “It’s great to get him back – he had a great start to pre-season, so its great having him back and amongst us.

“Hopefully he can start competing with the other lads for a starting spot because he is a quality player.

“He’s had a good few minutes already and has played a big part when he has come on in the games.

“Hopefully he can get his goal and kick on from there.”

Newly-appointed Charlton Athletic manager Johnnie Jackson has described Plymouth Argyle as 'still a top side' despite their run of five League One games without a win.

Jackson will hope to see his side continue their much-improved recent form when they play the Pilgrims at Home Park tomorrow.

He has today been appointed as Charlton's permanent manager after a very successful stint as caretaker boss over the past couple of months.

The Addicks have won six of their nine league games since Jackson replaced Nigel Adkins in October and moved up to 11th position.

One of those matches was a 2-0 victory over Argyle at The Valley on November 20, which ended the visitors' 16-game unbeaten league run.

Since then, of course, Ryan Lowe has been replaced as the Pilgrims' boss by his former No 2 Steven Schumacher.

Jackson said: "It's been a bit of a change around since we last played them, but actually personnel wise and what Schuey has been doing since Lowey left has been pretty similar.

"So we know all about him, we know the threats that they carry. They haven’t become a poor team all of a sudden.

"They’re just on a little bit of a bad run, which is going to happen to every team over a season, but they’re still a top side.”

With the current increase in positive Covid-19 cases, Jackson gave his opinion on the situation and how Charlton were trying to deal with it.

"It’s a little bit of a concern isn’t it?" he said. "Just in general society it’s ramping up, especially in the London area it seems to be pretty rife.

"We’ve been quite lucky at the minute that we haven’t been too badly affected, but obviously it’s something that we are putting mitigations in place for now, just to try and do everything best practice to minimise the risk to people’s health and, obviously, try and minimise the chance of games getting called off."

The full-time appointment of Jackson as Charlton manager was confirmed by the south London club at 12 noon.

Speaking to CharltonTV, he said: “I’m very pleased and very proud this morning. I have a special relationship with this football club, it is coming on 12 years now.

"I’ve been through some emotional times, highs and lows, which mould you into a certain character and this is the culmination of the story.

"From the moment I came here I had a special relationship with the supporters and the club and that has only grown over the years, through the good times and through the bad.

"The players have been absolutely brilliant. I can’t speak highly enough of them. The players and the staff have brought into what I am trying to do and they have helped facilitate results.

"I believe in everyone around me, I know that they are first class and will take the club forward."

Charlton owner Thomas Sandgaard added: "We have all seen the impact Johnnie has had since he took over. You can see that in the results, which have been excellent, and in the performance – the team are pressing with intensity, defending bravely and moving the ball quickly in possession. He’s doing an amazing job.

"Johnnie has a passion for the club, a connection with supporters, players and staff and a real knowledge of the game, so I’m delighted that he’s our new permanent manager."link

Steven Schumacher goes into his first game as Argyle manager at Home Park, looking to get back to winning ways against the side that brought an end to their unbeaten run last month.

Charlton Athletic are the visitors on Sunday, a side who have won their last four matches.

Speaking ahead of the game Steven said, “I’m excited and really looking forward to it.

“More important that my first home game in charge though, it’s going to be a good game against a real tough opponent.”

So far under the stewardship of their new manager, Argyle have drawn one and lost one from away trips to Milton Keynes Dons and Sunderland.

In both of those games, strong second half performances have shown encouragement to the manager.

The loss away to Charlton at the end of November brought an end to an unbeaten run in the league of 16 games.

Former Argyle defender Ben Purrington and Connor Washington got the goals that day, but Steven is sure his players will be able to go out and get some revenge.

He said, “It’s strange playing against a team so close together but we know how they play and their team.

“They have been in good form since that game and so I can’t imagine there being too many changes.

“It’s a new game though, it’s at Home Park not the Valley and we go into it with confidence trying to get a result.”

In the run since the reverse fixture, Argyle have played against four of the current top ten in Sky Bet League One and progressed to the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.

It was always going to be a tough run of fixtures, but the Greens have only lost twice at home all season and only four sides have a better record on home soil than Argyle.

Charlton come into the game in fine form, having won seven of their last ten games in all competitions.

They have lost just twice since interim boss Johnnie Jackson took over, both of those coming away from home.

They have won two of their last five matches on the road, beating Sunderland at Burton Albion back-to-back.

The Argyle players will be wearing black armbands at the game on Saturday in memory of former board member Peter Jones and former striker, Marvin Morgan, who both sadly passed away last week.

TEAM NEWS

Argyle have no fresh injury concerns with Brendan Galloway the only absentee.

Conor Grant missed the 2-1 loss at Sunderland on Saturday but could be in contention for the weekend.

There are no new injury concerns for Charlton either, but they will be without the injured quintet of Adam Matthews, Sam Lavelle, Ryan Inniss, Jake Foster-Caskey and Corey Blackett-Taylor

TICKET NEWS

Tickets are still available for the game at Home Park and can be bought online at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] over the phone on 01752907700 or in person at the Home Park Ticket Office.

Supporters are reminded that ,in line with new legislation COVID passes, or proof of a negative lateral flow test will be a requirement for entering the stadium and checks will be carried out on the day. Find out the latest information here.

It is requested that supporters arrive in good time to prevent queueing, with turnstiles opening at an earlier time of 1pm.

ARGYLE TV

If you cannot make the game then it is available to watch on Argyle TV for international subscribers, or to listen to for domestic fans for just £2.50.

Our pre-match show will be free to watch on the club's YouTube page from 2pm. Details on packages available to you can be found here.

Tough game against a decent side, back to winning ways though, Argyle 2 Hardie and Camara Charlton 1.

Score draw. Pandemic pandemonium at the turnstiles.

Need to get there early...... Maybe the club could give a discount on hot drinks or ale to encourage early arrival?

3-2 argyle a win with a leaky back door for Jesus birthday

Wonder which half Argo will turn up for?  Straight forward 3-0 win for the Addicks.

Shirley the players will turn up and give Schuey a reward?

Optimistically I don't think Argo will lose. Although like Freathers, am wondering if we can play consistently well for two halves.
COYG

Charlton are playing well and winning, dont see that changing today.

Tricky one today specially with our form as it is at the moment plus charlton are on fire at the moment and won there last 4
Just hope we get something out of the game
And put a halt to this slump

Feeling confident today in fact feeling confident over all the Christmas fixtures, even bought 5 x 50/50 draw tickets

Charlton are without Akin Famewo, Josh Davison and Conor Washington after they returned positive Covid-19 tests

With the Charlton loving in laws this weekend. The banter has started!

Blimey we're shite

So are Charlton just came in from working and expected goals. We will batter them second half.

1-0 agared HT

Get in Agard 1 0 to the poorer team.

Argo just about hanging on.  We might regret those misses.

Nice one nil haven't seen many of them from this Argyle team maybe the Shoemaker can teach them how to grind it out.

Deserved win, after a flat first half hour. we started to play, got that pace and movement back, and were the better side for the rest of the game. The goal was the only bit of quality from either side in the first half, great passing and movement, and a good finish from Agard.

Hardie and Camara the stars today, Mayor was good second half, surprised he was taken off for Broom.

First win for a few games and a clean sheet, up to 5th.