Ryan Hardie will again be missing for Plymouth Argyle when they play away to Brentford in the Emirates FA Cup third round tomorrow but the hope is that Mustapha Bundu will be back.

Hardie had to be substituted during the 2-2 New Year's Day draw against Bristol City at Home Park after taking a knock to his left shoulder and he was not in the squad for the 0-0 draw at Stoke City last Saturday.

Bundu has not played since Argyle lost 4-0 away to Coventry City on Boxing Day when he suffered a hamstring injury which has not turned out to be as severe as first feared.

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Argyle first team coach Kevin Nancekivell confirmed Hardie would definitely be out against Brentford "Ryan is going to be another maybe up to three weeks," he said. "He's still feeling his shoulder."

On Bundu, he added: "He has been training today (Thursday). I need to speak with the sports science guys to make sure there is no reaction but I'm hoping he will be involved in the squad."

The FA Cup tie could be a good opportunity for Dutch under-21 international winger Ibrahim Cissoko to get some game time after his recent recovery from a long-term hamstring injury, either from the start or off the substitutes' bench.

Nancekivell said: "He's not up to speed yet so any minutes that he gets will definitely benefit him. We will just have to see where we are, speak to the sports science guys and make a call on that one."

Meanwhile, on-loan Slavia Prague striker Muhamed Tijani is set to return to full training later this month after his long lay-off due to a hamstring injury.

The Nigerian forward has not played since late September. Nancekivell said: "He has been in and out of training a little bit depending on what we have been doing but he's maybe up to two to three weeks away from joining in properly, so that's a real positive sign for us and we look forward to getting TJ back on the pitch."

Also recovering from a hamstring injury is club captain Joe Edwards, who has been carrying out his rehabilitation while assisting Nancekivell in taking temporary charge of the first team since the departure of Wayne Rooney on New Year's Eve.

Nancekivell said: "He's getting there. After we finished our session today (Thursday) he was doing some running. He's improving, he's gradually getting there. He's going to be a little while yet but he's definitely on the right road.

"He has been a massive help to me in the technical area, in the office and on the training pitch. He has been outstanding, he has got a real bright future ahead of him I'm sure of that, whether it's as a coach or a manager.

"He's still a player at the minute and I know he desperately still wants to carry on doing that so he's working really hard to do his rehab. Then he's coming back up in the office and he's cracking on with his coaching role. I'm really grateful that he's next to me."

The January 7 cut-off point for Leeds United to recall midfielder Darko Gyabi from his loan spell at Argyle has passed so the 20-year-old will remain with the Pilgrims for the rest of the season.

Nancekivell said: "He has trained today (Thursday) and I have not been told any different so he's very much part of it."

Meanwhile, Callum Wright is available for selection against Brentford after serving a three-match suspension following his red card int he closing stages of the defeat against Coventry.

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