Oseni has had a scan on the ankle injury he suffered in the EFL Trophy group stage game against Crystal Palace under-21s
15:15, 24 Sep 2026Updated 15:33, 24 Sep 2026
Owen Oseni of Plymouth Argyle is injured during the EFL Trophy match between against Crystal Palace U21s at Home Park on 22 September 2026 – Photo: Dave Rowntree/PPAUK
The ankle injury to Plymouth Argyle striker Owen Oseni has not been the worst outcome it could have been, although there are no timescales yet on when the 23-year-old could return to action.
Oseni hobbled off the pitch after a foul on him during the EFL Trophy group stage game against Crystal Palace under-21s on Tuesday night and left Home Park on crutches and with a protective boot around his left foot.
His injury leaves Argyle with Will Evans and Bim Pepple as their only two out-and-out strikers, but head coach Tom Cleverley views Caleb Watts, who scored twice in the 5-1 win against Palace’s young Eagles, as ‘our third option in that top line’.
Cleverley said about Oseni: “We have had a scan done, it wasn’t the worst outcome. Now there is going to have to be a further opinion on that because it’s the ankle that he injured last year.
“I can’t give any timescales. It wasn’t the worst news we could receive. I’m sure I will be able to give you some more information on that next week.”
On whether Watts was an option to play up front for Argyle, Cleverley commented: “I wouldn’t if we were playing with one striker but certainly playing with two, and the difference between a striker and a number 10 in modern day football is five yards.
“Teams’ distances are so compact that from being in the pocket to being on the last line can be five yards. It’s a very similar role to what I would ask of a number 10.
“Caleb understands it brilliantly well and he’s certainly our third option in that top line moving forward.”
Goal celebrations for Caleb Watts of Plymouth Argyle who celebrates with Bim Pepple during the EFL League One match between Doncaster Rovers and Plymouth Argyle at The Club Doncaster Sports Village, Doncaster on 5 September 2026 (Photo: Steve Taylor/PPAUK)
Watts netted his first goal of the season in the recent 3-2 win away to Doncaster Rovers and posed plenty of attacking threat against Palace as he scored twice for an Argyle side which showed 11 changes from the 4-2 victory at Blackpool last weekend.
Cleverley said: “He looked very sharp, I told him that after the game. That’s the environment we have got at the minute, the guys who played Tuesday took their opportunity.
“The guys who weren’t in the squad and trained Tuesday – if you saw the training session – it’s a group of players that doesn’t feel like they have achieved anything, who are still hungry to move forward.”
Cleverley also had an injury update on former club record signing Michael Baidoo after a video on social media showed the Ghanaian attacking midfielder doing some gentle running at Harper’s Park.
Baidoo suffered a significant hamstring injury, which required an operation, in the pre-season game against Bristol City on August 1, after he had impressed in the previous warm-up matches for the 2026/27 campaign.
Also out injured at the moment are defender Alex Hartridge (ankle) and midfielder Malachi Boateng (knee ligaments).
Cleverley said about Baidoo: “Be patient with that one. That is normal to resume running at this stage for the hamstring surgery he had but there is still plenty of time in that rehab.
“The plan is into November. Out of the three, I would expect for Alex to be first, Malachi towards the end of next month and then Michael into November.”
The Pilgrims’ boss added: “I’m really pleased with the fitness of the squad. Three out of the four injured have been contacts, tackles, falls.
“From a muscular point of view I have been really pleased with the improvement with Gareth (Law, head of physiotherapy) and John Lucas (on-pitch physical performance coach) working together.”
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