Former Pilgrims boss Lowe is backing Cleverley to prosper

RYAN Lowe believes Tom Cleverley is 'the right man' to get Plymouth Argyle back into the Championship and has called him 'a fantastic coach.

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON

Tom Cleverley can take Plymouth Argyle back to the Championship, according to Ryan Lowe (right)

(ISABELLE FIELD)

Lowe, who led the Pilgrims to promotion from League Two on a points-per-game basis in the Covid-shortened 2019/20 season, returned to Home Park on Saturday as his current Wigan Athletic side secured a League One point with a 1-1 draw. It was the third time the 47-year-old had been back to Home Park since leaving his role as manager to take over at Preston North End in December 2021.

The first occasion was when Preston beat Ian Foster's Argyle 1-0 in a Championship match in March 2024, and he then watched on Miron Muslic’s Pilgrims caused a huge Emirates FA Cup upset by beating Premier League giants Liverpool 1-0, the team he supports, in February earlier this year.

It looked like Wigan were heading for defeat when Argyle took the lead against them with a 70th minute penalty from Lorent Tolaj, awarded for a foul on him by former Pilgrims’ defender Will Aimson, but Fraser Murray came up with an equaliser for the Latics in the closing stages.