Pepple to be given time to get fit for the derby

BUT PILGRIMS ARE IN NO RUSH TO BRING STRIKER BACK INTO TEAM

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON

PLYMOUTH Argyle will leave it as late as possible to see whether Bim Pepple 'can be used in some capacity' for the Devon derby against Exeter City at Home Park tomorrow, Tom Cleverley has confirmed.

Pepple started for the Pilgrims when they lost 2-1 at home to Bolton Wanderers on Good Friday but was then ruled out of the 3-0 win away to Barnsley on Easter Monday by a minor calf injury.

In his absence for the latter match, strikers Owen Oseni and Lorent Tolaj combined for all three goals so there is not a pressure to rush back Pepple.

Tolaj has played in the last two games, as a substitute against and then for an hour from the start at Barnsley, after a leg injury and Cleverley declared 'the shackles are off now' for the Swiss striker in terms of the minutes he can complete.

Argyle will also have Tegan Finn (hamstring), Matty Sorinola (ankle) and Brendan Wiredu (abdominal problem) available for selection against Exeter after recovering from their respective injuries.

Cleverley said about Pepple: "It will be a late decision that one. 50-50. Risk assessment comes into it with the size of the game and the stage of the season, so that will be as late as possible."

Between them, Tolaj (18), Pepple (15) and Oseni (10) have scored 43 goals in all competitions this season and what was once an area of weakness for Argyle has now become a strength.

Cleverley said: "I remember in November time we were saying Tolly was our only source of goals, but they are spread out now, certainly in the strikers' department.