Mike Phelan will be in the Plymouth Argyle dug-out for the first time for the Championship clash against Swansea City at Home Park tomorrow night.

The 62-year-old was confirmed as Wayne Rooney's new assistant head coach after the departure of Pete Shuttleworth by mutual consent and was at the club yesterday as they completed their preparations for the visit of 13th-placed Swansea.

Rooney said: "Pete is someone who I respect greatly, and a great friend of mine as well. Unfortunately, we had to part ways. He had some personal stuff he had to deal with. That was the reason really."

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He continued: "I know Mike really well. Once we knew what Pete's situation was we had to move quite quickly. I spoke to Mike and it was quite swift in terms of getting him in. He has been with us from today (Monday).

"I think he will bring great experience to our coaching staff, with the roles he has had throughout his career. He knows the game really well and he has managed at this level as well.

"He's calm, he's calculated in how he works, which I know very well. He was my coach at Manchester United. I think he will fit in with the coaches we have already got."

Argyle dropped into the Championship relegation zone after their home match against Oxford United on Saturday was postponed due to Storm Darragh.

Rooney said: "We had a really good week in training, the lads were ready so it was very frustrating the game was called off. Obviously, that was out of our hands, there was nothing we could do with that. We have been preparing now for Swansea."

While Argyle had no match, Swansea made it three unbeaten in the Championship when they came from behind to draw 1-1 away to Luton Town on Saturday after a Matt Grimes equaliser in the second half. Rooney said: "They are a good team. They press really well at the right times. They keep the ball really well, they try to wear you down.

"We are expecting a very difficult game. There is no denying that but I think tomorrow night is about us. It's about what we do. We have to make it difficult for them to come and try to play here."

Argyle have had some good results under the Home Park floodlights this season, beating Luton Town and Portsmouth and twice coming from behind to draw with Watford, but Rooney does not read too much into that.

He said: "I think every game is different. After analysing Swansea over the last week, they are a good team. We are under no illusion this is going to be an easy game for us at all. We know it's going to be a very difficult game, we have to be at our best for 90 minutes to win."

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