Cleverley confident about Argyle quality for Wanderers test

TOM Cleverley has predicted it will be 'two good teams going at it' when Plymouth Argyle take on their former manager Steven Schumacher's Bolton Wanderers side at the Toughsheet Community Stadium today.

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON

The Pilgrims will be without five of their squad due to injuries Conor Hazard, Jack MacKenzie, Julio Pleguezuelo, Joe Edwards and Freddie Issaka - for their first away League One game of the campaign.

Cleverley has done his homework on Bolton, which included watching them in action when they lost 2-0 away to Stockport County in their opening match of the season last Sunday, less than 24 hours after Argyle were beaten 3-1 by Barnsley at Home Park.

He said about Bolton: "I thought first half they were very good, some excellent players in their side. It will be a tough test for us, we know. Both teams suffering an opening day defeat will probably make both grit their teeth a bit more to get that first win.

"It will be a big challenge. They have spent good money on an already strong squad but we have got plenty of quality for them to be worried about as well. I think it will be two good teams going at it and a good game of football."

Cleverley has come up against Schumacher as a head coach once before, when he led Watford to a 3-0 home win against Stoke City in the Championship last August. He is well aware of how the now Bolton boss led the Pilgrims to their League One title success in the 2022/23 season.