Issaka shines as Pilgrims win Plymouth derby at Parkway

STEVEN Schumacher has admitted to being pleasantly surprised by 16-year-old Plymouth Argyle prospect Freddie Issaka at the start of pre-season.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

The former Truro School student, who is not 17 until later this month, was the Pilgrims' stand-out player in their 2-0 victory over Plymouth Parkway at Bolitho Park on Tuesday night.

Issaka, who played for Wales at the European Under-17 Championship finals earlier this summer, set up Ben Waine to score Argyle's first goal in the only fifth minute with an excellent pass.

He continued to impress in his attacking role on the left for the Championship visitors who lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, before being substituted in the 54th minute.

Issaka also scored when Argyle beat Scottish Premiership side Hearts 1-0 in their first game of preseason while on a week-long training camp in Spain last week.

Schumacher said: "He's training with the first team at the moment and he's doing really well. He's handling it, and like any of the young players if you are good enough then you are old enough.

"That's the attitude I have got and I know Neil (Dewsnip, Argyle's director or football) shares that same attitude because of his experiences.