PAUL MARINER has given a glowing endorsement to the squad of players he has taken over at Plymouth Argyle.

The Pilgrims' head coach assumed control of first team affairs at the Championship club from Paul Sturrock on Thursday.

And Mariner's first game in his new role is against Preston North End at Deepdale today (3pm).

Argyle have lost their last three matches, all by 1-0 scorelines, and are one position off the bottom of the Championship table.

But Mariner insisted the mood of the players was not despondent, despite their poor results and Sturrock's exit.

Mariner said: "The spirit of these lads, the resilience of these lads and the character of these lads is quite remarkable because they have gone through a lot – and they are going through a lot.

"In training on Thursday morning, it was as buoyant as I had seen them for a long time. They look as though they are ready to go."

Victory over Preston in Mariner's first match in charge of the Pilgrims would be a massive boost for all concerned at the club.

Mariner said: "Obviously, one game doesn't turn around your season.

"We had a fantastic win up at Middlesbrough, which we thought would give us a platform, but it didn't.

"The truth of the matter is we aren't leaking goals, and the players have certainly worked very hard on the training ground to try to plug whatever holes have been cropping up.

"It would be enormous if we could get a point or a win today – absolutely – but it's a long-term thing.

"It's about getting the cohesion and all the things that coaches talk about for teams. We have just got to get it going."

Argyle are set to be without right-back David Gray (hamstring) and midfielder Yoann Folly (ankle) against Preston because of injuries sustained in the 1-0 defeat at Swansea City on Tuesday.

And on-loan Aston Villa centre-back Shane Lowry must serve a one-match suspension.

He was sent-off in stoppage time at the end of the game against Swansea for a second bookable offence.

Lowry clashed with Swans' striker Gorka Pintado, having already been shown a yellow card for a challenge on the same player.

His loan spell with the Pilgrims will end after the home game against Coventry City next Saturday.

Argyle will be keen to renew a deal for the 20-year-old Australian when the transfer window opens on January 1.

But there has been speculation that Championship rivals Sheffield United could try to take him on loan to Bramall Lane instead.

In the absence of Lowry, Benin international Reda Johnson could get the chance to make only his second start for Argyle.

However, midfielder Carl Fletcher is also an option because he has had past experience of playing in the centre of defence.

Either Darcy Blake or Karl Duguid will play at right-back as a replacement for Gray, whose loan from Manchester United also ends next weekend.

Chris Clark was a 21st minute substitute for Folly against Swansea and is the most likely to replace him in the starting line-up today.

Mariner said: "It's not so much a skeleton crew, but people are going to be called upon to help us out."

Striker Steve MacLean and defender David McNamee were both out of favour under Sturrock.

But there is a possibility the two Scots could both be considered for selection by Mariner at some point.

"Everybody on the playing staff is available," said Mariner.

Preston are in 14th position in the Championship, having not won any of their last seven league games, and have scored only one goal in the last five.

But over the years they have always been difficult to beat at Deepdale.

Mariner said: "From what I have been hearing, Preston are quite a powerful, solid team.

"You could probably write that up about most sides in this league.

"I'm not saying that everybody is on a par, but people have got some players who can make a difference.

"Hopefully, we will have a couple of difference makers today."

Mariner admitted the support of the travelling ranks of the Green Army could also play an important part.

The Pilgrims' head coach said: "If ever we needed the fans, we need them right now.

"Everybody is sort of writing us off, and saying we are this, that and the other. We just want the fans to get behind us.

"We thought we gave a good showing at Home Park the other day (against Sheffield United) and lost because of basically one error.

"Then, the other night up at Swansea, we got punished for one error again.

"Hopefully, we can seal that up, and get a goal from somewhere."