Ben Barker will miss Plymouth’s Cab Direct Championship meeting at Oxford after admitting he has been forced to accept the trip comes too soon.
Barker had hoped to be back for the away fixture, but he said he is still in discomfort and will continue his rehabilitation before targeting a return to the track as soon as possible.
It is another setback for Plymouth as they prepare for a meeting Gary May has already described as a must-win if the Gladiators are to stay in touch in the play-off race.
The absence of Barker means Plymouth are again looking at cover options, with May saying earlier that Danny King and Ben Barker would ideally be back, but that guests would be used if necessary.
Plymouth go into the Oxford meeting with the pressure clear. The result will have a direct bearing on how firmly they remain in the Championship play-off hunt, and the line-up again looks set to be a key part of the challenge.
Attention now turns to the final team decisions for the visit to Oxford and whether Plymouth can still find the points they need without Barker back in the side.
Photo: Ebony March