Loan men continue to be of superb value to Argyle

PLYMOUTH Argyle have had considerable success with their use of the loan market over recent times and that has continued to be the case this season.

Without the finances to compete with wealthier clubs, both in the League One title race last term and now in the Championship - where Steven Schumacher reckons they have the lowest budget out of the 24 teams - the Pilgrims have turned to talented young loan signings to supplement their squad.

Last season Finn Azaz, Sam Cosgrove, Nigel Lonwijk, Jay Matete, Bali Mumba and Morgan Whittaker all played important parts in the Pilgrims’ promotion push, which saw them return to the Championship after a 13-year absence.

Azaz returned on another seasonlong loan from Aston Villa for the 2023/24 campaign and has been joined by Luke Cundle, Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Lewis Warrington. With the exception of the latter, they have all become first team regulars as Argyle have shown encouraging signs they can retain their Championship status into next term.

Here, Chris Errington gives his assessment of Argyle’s current loan quartet as the halfway stage of the season gets close.

FINN AZAZ

It is sometimes easy to forget the 23-year-old midfielder is not a fulltime Argyle player because he has basically been with them since the start of last season. Whenever the local media get the chance to talk to him he always appears very happy to be in Plymouth.

Azaz has been involved in all 19 of Argyle’s Championship games, starting 15 of them. He has scored four goals and assisted another three, and is without doubt one of their most effective attacking players.