Argyle Faces Defensive Setback as Hartridge Injured

Plymouth Argyle have been hit with a significant defensive setback, with Alex Hartridge facing up to a month on the sidelines after damaging ankle ligaments.

The 27-year-old, a free-transfer arrival in the summer, suffered the injury late on in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Doncaster Rovers, having come off the bench to help see out the game. Scans have confirmed ligament damage, leaving Argyle braced for a spell without a player who had quickly become a constant in Tom Cleverley’s plans.

Hartridge, formerly of Exeter City and Wycombe Wanderers, had featured in every Argyle fixture this season and marked his debut with a goal in the Carabao Cup against Exeter. His consistency and left-sided balance have been key in the opening weeks; now Cleverley has to reshuffle.

He is the latest name added to an increasingly crowded treatment room. Michael Baidoo is already ruled out until November with a hamstring problem, while Malachi Boateng and Jack MacKenzie are also unavailable.

"It's another unfortunate one," head coach Tom Cleverley told BBC South West, as he assessed a growing list of absentees.

"We've got four boys out at the minute, Macca is one we've carried from last year and two from innocuous challenges with Alex and Malachi," he said. "They're not load management, they're not staffing problems, they're just part and parcel of a contact sport."

Cleverley did, however, point to Baidoo’s situation as one the club will pore over in more detail.

"Michael Baidoo's the one that we can review and analyse how we can manage better, or the player can manage better," he added. "But the injury numbers have been very pleasing and three out of the four we have got out have been either carried over from last season or contact knocks."

Argyle’s start has carried momentum and goals. Now it will also test their depth, and how quickly they can adapt without one of their ever-presents.