Plymouth Argyle’s Zim defender Brendan Galloway returning to full training

By plymouthherald.co.uk

Defender Brendan Galloway was set to return to full training with the Plymouth Argyle squad today after completing his recovery from a leg injury.

The 27-year-old still has plenty of catching up to do when it comes to his fitness levels, though, after not being involved at all in pre-season.

Galloway missed the end of last term and the start of the 2023/24 campaign, and has not played since the 2-1 win at Shrewsbury Town on April 18.

The Zimbabwe international worked with Argyle assistant manager Mark Hughes and first team coach Peter Cavanagh on Tuesday, before the Carabao Cup first round tie against Leyton Orient at Home Park in the evening.

Now Galloway is going to need to continue to build himself up and Argyle will not look to rush him back after his recent recent of injuries.

Schumacher said: “Brendan has completed his first few days contact. He did a bit extra (on Tuesday) with Hughesie and Cav, and the group who wasn’t involved (against Orient).

“He’s ready to join in on Thursday full contact, so really good, but obviously he has got to keep his fitness work as well because the running the players have done in the pre-season he hasn’t done all of that.

“So he will be working with the group and then working with Elliot (Turner, Argyle’s head of fitness and conditioning) as well.”

Macaulay Gillesphey is another left-sided central defender who has not featured at all since the start of pre-season in late June but is now getting closer to a return to training.

Gillesphey had a groin operation in the summer after being a regular part of the Pilgrims’ League One title-winning team last term.

Schumacher said: “He’s passing the ball really well. He still needs to get up to top speed on his high intensity but isn’t far away either.”

With Galloway and Gillesphey sidelined, and Lewis Gibson being saved for Argyle’s tough Championship trip to Watford on Saturday, midfielder Matt Butcher lined up as the left-sided centre-back against Orient.

Schumacher said: “I asked Butch how he felt about slotting into that role and like all the time when you ask him to do these things he just wants to play.