An already injury-hit Plymouth Argyle have been dealt another blow with Dutch under-21 international winger Ibrahim Cissoko ruled out of action for a couple of months.
Wayne Rooney has revealed the Pilgrims’ loan signing from French Ligue 1 club Toulouse is undergoing surgery for a groin/hip flexor issue and will likely not play again until January. It is a similar injury to the one which ended the Argyle loan spell of Darko Gyabi from Leeds United last season, although the midfielder returned to Home Park in the summer for another stint from the West Yorkshire side.
Cissoko was sent-off late in the first half of the 5-0 Championship defeat away to Cardiff City on October 19 and was suspended for Argyle’s last three matches – the 1-0 defeat at Millwall, the 3-3 draw with Preston North End and, most recently, the 3-0 loss away to Leeds United on Saturday.
However, the skilful 21-year-old attacker has not trained since his red card against Cardiff due to his injury, and the Pilgrims will now also be without him until early 2025. That will open up opportunities for several players, including teenage prospects Freddie Issaka and Tegan Finn, to step into the side.
Rooney confirmed the news about Cissoko during a Press conference this lunchtime ahead of the Sky-televised Championship clash at home to Portsmouth tomorrow (8pm). “He won’t be in the squad, he won’t be available for a couple of months,” said the Pilgrims’ boss.
“He’s undergoing surgery. It’s a big blow for us, a big loss, but on the other hand you have got young Freddie, young Tegan, Moose (Mustapha Bundu) might have an opportunity to come in so we have got players who now might get an opportunity to go and play.”
Cissoko is Argyle’s joint top scorer, along with Morgan Whittaker, on three goals, and he also has two assists. He netted twice as a substitute in the Sky-televised 3-1 home win against Luton Town on September 27.
Rooney added: “He actually done it (the injury) in the Cardiff game. He hasn’t trained since then. We have sent him for scans and unfortunately it has come back he needs surgery. He will be out until probably January. It’s a huge blow. I think he’s a real important player for us but, as I said, it’s an opportunity for other players to come in. Hopefully they can take that.”
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