Rooney happy for Edwards to help out with coaching Argyle

PLYMOUTH Argyle captain Joe Edwards got a unique taste of what it is like being a coach for the final preseason game away to MK Dons on Saturday.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

Edwards missed the last three warm-up matches due to a slight groin injury, but head coach Wayne Rooney declared after the Pilgrims’ 1-0 win at Stadium: MK that the 33-year-old would be fit for the Championship season-opener at Sheffield Wednesday this Sunday.

The decision was taken not to risk Edwards against MK Dons, so Rooney gave him the chance to join the coaching team and sit with them in the away technical area.

Rooney told Herald Sport: “He has had an injury. We could have pushed him but we didn’t want to do that. He actually joined the coaching team, so he had his coaches’ gear on.

“I think it’s good when you have got senior players – he’s obviously the captain – and when he’s not playing you can involve him. Sometimes getting a player’s point of view helps.”

Rather than sitting in the stand at Stadium: MK, Edwards took a seat in Argyle’s dug-out while Rooney watched a lot of the game from the edge of the technical area.

“It was something a little bit different for him,” added Rooney about Edwards. “He said the final words to the players before we came out. I told him ‘If you see anything on the bench, come and tell me, don’t be afraid to say that’. He was good.