Plymouth Argyle captain Joe Edwards out until 2025 with injury

JOE Edwards has been ruled out until the New Year in a big blow to Plymouth Argyle which leaves them “thin” but manager Wayne Rooney insists it opens up opportunities for others to take.

Versatile Edwards will miss the busy festive period with the 34-year-old Argyle captain picking up a serious hamstring injury in the recent 3-3 draw with Preston North End.

Rooney confirmed: “We are quite thin at the minute. We have picked up a few injuries; Joe Edwards will be out for a while. He has picked up quite a bad one so he will be out until the New Year I’d imagine.

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“We are going through a period where we are picking up injuries and when you get injuries, it’s a good opportunity for other players to come in and try and stamp their claim to stay in the team.

“Lewis Gibson is probably going to be back after the international break.”

One player who is firing after his first goal last week is new striker Andre Gray.

The 33-year-old former Luton Town frontman opened his account after joining the club on a free transfer at the start of October following his release from Saudi Pro-League club Al-Riyadh.

Rooney was asked if he could play from the start and he said: “He’s close. Of course he’s been building his fitness up to get him up to speed.

“He’s an option for us whether it’s from the start or the bench. It’s important this week. We have got three games.

“There will be some changes within the games to try and maximise the energy of the players.”

Edwards has scored 24 goals in 235 appearances since joining Plymouth as a free agent in June 2019 after leaving Walsall, helping Argyle win promotion from League Two in his first season.

Edwards, who is one of Argyle’s longest-serving players, had started 10 of the Pilgrims’ last 11 matches.

The full-back scored the crucial goal that kept Argyle in the Championship last season thanks to a final-day 1-0 win over Hull City and was part of the side that won the League One title in 2023.

Last month he signed a new contract to keep him at Home Park until the summer of 2026.

Gibson, meanwhile, has a thigh injury, which the former Everton stopper picked up in the 1-0 Championship defeat at Millwall last midweek.

Rooney said: “He picked up an injury in the last game. We have been nursing it this week. I think he will be doubtful for next week and then after that we will see how he is.

“We were going to take him off (against Millwall) actually. He felt he could carry on but it was too sore for him to play today or probably next week as well.”