Injured duo set to make comebacks

INJURED Argyle duo Karl Duguid and Bradley Wright-Phillips are set to return to training in the next couple of days.

It is a timely boost for the Pilgrims, ahead of their trip to second-placed West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Duguid suffered a heavily swollen and badly bruised left ankle when Argyle lost 2-1 to Derby County at Pride Park on August 22.

The 31-year-old was hurt by a tackle from Derby defender Jake Buxton early in the game, as he attempted a shot on the Rams' goal.

Duguid continued playing after receiving treatment, but he eventually had to be substituted in the 51st minute because of the pain.

He was ruled out of Argyle's 3-1 home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday on August 29, before the current international break started.

Wright-Phillips, a summer signing from Southampton, is battling back to fitness after a knee injury only four days before the start of the season.

The 24-year-old did the damage when he played in a first team practice match away to Exeter City on August 4.

Wright-Phillips was stretchered off the St James' Park pitch and required a cartilage operation.

Argyle manager Paul Sturrock said: "Duguid and Wright-Phillips should come back into training later this week.

"I have talked to the physio (Paul Maxwell) and he's quite comfortable the two of them could come back either tomorrow or Friday."

As Duguid has only been out of action for a fortnight, there must be a good chance of him being available for the game against West Brom.

Whether it will be too soon for Wright-Phillips to be selected remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Argyle loan signing Darcy Blake is nursing a tight hamstring after returning from international duty with Wales under-21s.

But Sturrock said: "I have talked to him and he's comfortable that he will be okay for Saturday."

Blake started for Wales when they beat Italy 2-1 in a 2011 European Under-21 Championship qualifier at Wrexham last Friday.

However, his 12th match for Wales at under-21 level was cut short when he was substituted in the 50th minute because of the hamstring problem.

Blake was signed by Argyle on loan from Cardiff City on August 28 and made his debut, at right-back, in the defeat by Sheffield Wednesday the next day.