Busy week at Home Park sees three new arrivals as Argyle return to training ahead of 2021/22 season

Plymouth Argyle manager Ryan Lowe has wasted no time this summer looking to fill the gaps in his squad, and added his fourth, fifth and sixth signings of the summer as Argyle returned to preseason training.

On Wednesday, I wrote about the squad situation as it was at the time, but it already has a different look to it with three new signings.

Goalkeeper Callum Burton who was released by Cambridge, defender James Bolton from Portsmouth who has signed for an undisclosed fee, and midfielder Jordan Houghton, who returns to the club after being released by MK Dons, have all signed on the dotted line ahead of the new campaign.

There was also another new face at training with former Everton and Sunderland defender Brendan Galloway joining Argyle on trial for preseason.

All three additions look to add strength to the squad, either through depth or quality, and all look better than the players they have replaced in the squad.

Although Burton was released by Cambridge at the end of last season, the keeper played a key role in their promotion, with 11 clean sheets from 33 games in all competitions.

While Mike Cooper will still go into preseason as Argyle’s first choice keeper, Burton should be able to push him better than Luke McCormick or Jack Ruddy managed to last season.

McCormick was also re-registered this week, but will have more of a coaching role this season with Burton competing with Cooper for the spot in the starting line up.

James Bolton brings competition on the right side of defence for James Wilson, and also cover with Wilson not playing many games last season at Ipswich and with continuing injury problems always in the back of the mind.

Bolton has also played at right-back before, which would allow Lowe to change from his favoured 3-5-2 formation should he wish without having to lose the attacking threat of Joe Edwards down the right-hand side by accommodating him at right-back.

Every member of the new defence looks better on paper than those that came before them, it will undoubtedly take them time to gel as a unit, especially with more additions expected, but Argyle will be hopeful they are stronger at the back and won’t concede anywhere near the 80 of last season this time around.

Jordan Houghton meanwhile is a classy League One defensive midfielder, good both on and off the ball, and should slot seamlessly into Lowe’s team.

The defensive midfield role was arguably Argyle’s weakest last season with first choice Lewis MacLeod being very impressive when he did manage to play, but having spent most of the season injured the role was often filled by Nottingham Forest loanee Tyrese Fornah, who failed to make a positive impression on most Argyle supporters.

Houghton’s experience should mean the mistakes seen in that role last season are cut out or, at the very least, reduced.

What still needs to be done?

With three new signings, and McCormick re-registered, Argyle’s squad for the upcoming season now looks like this:

GK: Mike Cooper, Callum Burton, Luke McCormick

CB: James Wilson, Dan Scarr, Macaulay Gillesphey, James Bolton, Ollie Tomlinson, Brandon Pursall

WB: Joe Edwards, George Cooper, Ryan Law

CDM: Jordan Houghton, Adam Randell

CM: Danny Mayor, Conor Grant, Panutche Camara

ST: Luke Jephcott, Ryan Hardie, Niall Ennis

The goalkeeping position is now covered, with no new arrivals to be expected there.

At centre-back both Ollie Tomlinson and Brandon Pursall are unlikely to be part of the first team picture come the start of the season. Pursall is still only 17 and will likely line up with the U18s despite having a professional contract. Tomlinson meanwhile will likely go out on loan, with Torquay a possible option after the success of Adam Randell’s loan last time out.

That leaves Argyle still needing two centre-backs. Galloway could be one of those if offered a new deal, providing competition for Gillesphey on the left-hand side, but there is currently no competition for Scarr in the middle. Lowe had previously hinted he may look for a defender on loan, and this would likely be that player.

When it comes to wing-back the left-hand side is well covered with Cooper and Law, and would be covered even further should Galloway sign after his trial, the right-hand side however could do with a new addition. Randell may be seen as cover for that role after being played at both right wing and right back at times for Torquay, but it is expected he will cover the defensive midfield position.

Argyle are set in defensive midfield unless Lowe sees Randell’s position elsewhere now after his loan, in which case a new CDM would be needed, it’s possible the loan for a defender could be cover for both positions, but there will not be many players available who fit that bill.

Mayor, Grant and Camara mean Argyle are reasonably well stocked in central midfield, but someone to provide cover for Mayor on the left would be expected, given most managers like two players for every position. This could well end up being a loan player signed as cover with Mayor expected to start when fit.

Up front Argyle have three decent options in Jephcott, Hardie and Ennis. But at least one new striker is expected to arrive before the season starts.

That leaves Argyle with five or six new signings potentially to still find, but with 20 players already registered not all will be able to be senior players. As explained last time out, as rules currently stand in League One, clubs can only have 20 players aged 21 or over registered to play next campaign.

Randell, Pursall and Tomlinson all start the season aged U21, which gives room for three new signings aged over 21, this includes loan players, although given they would likely be used as back-up, any loan players that do arrive would probably be U21 so as to not count towards the squad cap.

The three spots available, if all used, will likely be used on a centre-back, a striker and a winger, leaving possible U21 spots for another centre-back, a centre-midfielder and possibly another striker, given Lowe started last season with five and may wish to do the same again.

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt