Plymouth Argyle manager Miron Muslic says Morgan Whittaker 'did not show up' as he explained the Middlesbrough target's absence from the heavy defeat to Burnley.

Whittaker was not in the squad on Wednesday evening as the Pilgrims were crushed 5-0 by Burnley, who are also said to be battling to sign the forward this month. Though nothing is understood to be agreed at this stage, our sister site Plymouth Live have described Boro as favourites to land the 24-year-old.

Muslic explained that Whittaker was meant to be in the Plymouth side for the game, but it's not clear exactly why he wasn't. Despite Musclic's wording, Whittaker was at Home Park on the night and watched on from the stands, with the new head coach's explanation suggesting he maybe didn't feel the forward had the right focus for the game.

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Muslic told Plymouth Live: "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 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.

"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."

As well as Whittaker, Boro are also chasing a loan deal for Bournemouth keeper Mark Travers and midfielder Glen Kamara and continue talks with Hull City over a potential return for left-back Ryan Giles. How much Boro are able to do likely depends on if they sell Emmanuel Latte Lath or not though. If they did, they would also want to sign a replacement centre-forward.