Mitchell is not yet fit but feels at home already

NEW LOAN DEFENDER NEEDS TIME TO GET HIMSELF UP TO SPEED

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON

DEFENDER Alex Mitchell believes he will get up to the standards he sets for himself with a couple more games for Plymouth Argyle after joining them at the start of this week.

The centre-back completed a season-long loan move from Charlton Athletic on Monday and made his debut in the 1-0 defeat against Leyton Orient, one of his former clubs, at Home Park the next evening. He was pleased with how it went for him in the first half but not so much in the second period.

Mitchell's only previous first team action this season had been when he played in Charlton’s 3-1 home Carabao Cup first round victory over Stevenage the previous Tuesday, so his match fitness levels are not quite where he wants them to be yet.

The 23-year-old came off the pitch in the 78th minute against Orient because of a hamstring which was cramping up but that was more of a precaution than anything for him to be concerned about.

Argyle are the fifth club that Mitchell has joined on loan still relatively early in his career after previously being with Bromley, Orient, Scottish side St Johnstone and Lincoln City.

Mitchell said: “I knew Plymouth were interested for a while. It took a while to get it done just because Charlton had a few injuries maybe, I'm not entirely sure.

“I play with a smile on my face, I'm buzzing to be here. It’s a massive club, I have walked around the city a little bit already and I do like it. I can tell it's going to be a place I really enjoy.

“The fans do back you. I know towards the end (against Orient) it got very frustrating for them but I still thought they were brilliant in the circumstances.”