Miron Muslic has stated the fit-again Conor Hazard is his first choice Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper ahead of Dan Grimshaw.

Hazard was between the posts for Argyle when they won 1-0 away to Premier League club Brentford in the Emirates FA Cup third round on January 11, the day after Muslic was appointed as head coach.

The Northern Ireland international was then ruled out by an injury for Mulic's first three matches in charge of the team and replaced by Grimshaw, but after returning to fitness Hazard was restored to the starting line-up for the 2-2 draw against Championship high-fliers Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

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That was one of five changes Muslic made to the team following the 5-0 drubbing by Burnley at Hme Park last Wednesday, when the visitors scored all of their goals before the interval.

Hazard made a couple of excellent first half saves against Sunderland and Argyle went on t pick up just their fourth away Championship point of the campaign.

Asked about the return of Hazard, Muslic said: "I feel very sorry for Daniel because you could maybe assume that I took him out because we lost a game with five-zero in the half-time. It was not Daniel's fault - not one goal is his fault - and he was the best player just a couple of days before against QPR.

"When I arrived I saw Conor as a number one and it's very important to have a clear number one. It's a GK, it's different. Conor was not 100 per cent fit, he was doubtful, and Daryl (Flahavan) our head of goalkeeping told me we can always rely on Daniel but to give Conor this confidence I just told him and gave him my word 'Look, you are going to recover, and as soon as you recover you are going to go back to the goal' because I think that's important.

"In the meantime, Daniel performs very good. I know now that we also have with Daniel an excellent goalkeeper but I think it's important to have a clear number one. Goalkeeping is all about confidence."

Argyle began the season with Hazard and Michael Cooper as their two 'keepers but when the latter moved to Sheffield United in August they brought in Grimshaw from League One outfit Blackpool.

Hazard started the first four Championship games of the season but then suffered a long-term ankle injury and Grimshaw went on to play the next 18 games before losing his place following the 4-0 defeat at Coventry City on Boxing Day. The next four games saw Hazard back between the posts before he was briefly sidelined again.

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