Morgan Whittaker was selected to play for Plymouth Argyle against Burnley at Home Park last night but did not show up in time, according to head coach Miron Muslic.

The drama around the Pilgrims' most valuable asset was a backdrop to the Pilgrims' embarrassing 5-0 defeat to the promotion-chasing Clarets, with all five goals scored before half-time.

Whittaker watched the game from the Lower Mayflower Grandstand, with many of the Green Army in the Devonport End who remained until the final whistle chanting 'That was embarrassing' towards the players.

READ MORE: Miron Muslic: Plymouth Argyle need radical change in mentality and attitude

READ MORE: Morgan Whittaker watches on as Plymouth Argyle hammered by Burnley

Muslic's post-match comments about Whittaker, who has been at the centre of intense transfer talk over recent days after bids from Burnley and Middlesbrough, seem certain to spell the end of the 24-year-old's time at Home Park.

Asked about the absence of Whittaker, the Pilgrims' boss said in his post-match Press conference: "We need players who really want to play for Argyle so we can always count on them, and we need players who are ready to give everything. I know he's a target and linked with transfers I think from summer on, let's see.

"He was in the selection (against Burnley) and he was not there. We need to change this mentality, we need to change the locker room, we need to get characters inside with the desire to face this challenge and to give it all. That's our only way and that's our only chance."

Muslic added: "Morgan is an Argyle player under contract here as long as nobody are paying the money we as an organisation demand, and paying his value. He's an Argyle player and he has responsibilities and obligations towards Argyle. Like I said, that's one of the reasons Argyle is struggling for the last months.

"Morgan didn't show up. We had a game today and he was in the selection and he was not there, and that's everything I have to say on Morgan."

Argyle captain Adam Randell also faced the media after the match and he too was asked about the absence of Whittaker. "I wasn't aware of the situation entirely," he said. "Obviously, what happened, happened and we just tried to focus on the team, preparing ourselves for the game.

"It's tough but, at the same time, I was trying to focus on myself and do what I could do to prepare myself for the game and make sure the others around me that were there were also prepared."

Whittaker joined Argyle for a club record transfer fee of £1million from Swansea City in July 2023 after a successful loan spell in the first half of the previous season. He has scored 33 goals, many of them spectacular ones, in a total of 90 starts and 17 substitute appearances for the Pilgrims but now his time at Home Park appears to be up, with Middlesbrough thought to be the favourites to sign him.

Swansea are entitled to a sizeable sell-on for Whittaker so whatever fee Argyle do get for him they will have to pass on a significant amount of it to their Championship rivals.

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