Benarous poised to make his first start for Argyle

EX-BRISTOL CITY MAN TO LINE UP AGAINST QUEEN'S PARK RANGERS

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON

AYMAN Benarous is set to start a competitive match for the first time in more than three years when Plymouth Argyle take on Queens Park Rangers in the Carabao Cup first round at Home Park on tonight.

Benarous, 21, broke into the Bristol City side as a talented teenager during the 2021/22 season but he then suffered back-to-back ACL knee injuries, followed by hamstring issues, and was eventually released by the Robins this summer.

When the summer signing made his debut for Argyle as a second half substitute in the 2-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday it was his first league game since April 30, 2022 when he came off the bench for City in a 5-0 home victory over Hull City.

Benarous had started the previous match for the Robins, which was a 3-1 away win against Hull City.

Now, all this time later, he is poised to make a full debut for Argyle in Carabao Cup action.

QPR began their Championship campaign on Saturday with a 1-1 draw at home to Preston North End on Saturday. Striker Rumarn Burrell, who was a transfer target for Argyle before joining Rangers, made his debut as a second half substitute so could be in line to start against the Pilgrims, who have lost their opening two League One games.

Both sides are expected to make several changes to their teams for the first round tie, although with Argyle having five players out injured and a relatively small squad their head coach Tom Cleverley does not have lots of options to do so.