New signing James Plant will be an exciting “ball carrier” for Yeovil Town having joined on loan from League Two side Port Vale, according to Glovers’ boss Mark Cooper.
The manager said the 20-year-old, who made 35 appearances for his parent club in League One last season, had only arrived in Somerset on Friday and was yet to train with the squad. He is named among the substitutes’ for today’s home match with Aldershot Town.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins ahead of the match, Cooper said: “He is one we have been looking at for a while, we were waiting until he was available. He is an exciting player, a ball carrier, he just wants to run and cross the ball and shoot, so I think he will be one who will excite the fans.”
Winger Dylan Morgan does start in the National League Premier fixture following his return from a loan spell at Weston-super-Mare, one level down in the non-League pyramid.
The manager insisted his early return from a three-month spell in north Somerset was always part of the plan.
Cooper said: “Dyl picked up a niggle in pre-season and it knocked him back and we had to get him fit as quick as we could and the best way for him was to go out on loan and play some games. I said at the time that if he goes out, plays his games and does well, we will put him in the team. That is what we have done. He can’t have done any more, he has gone to Weston, played well, scored some goals, so he comes back and gets an opportunity.”
Neither side lining up is in great goal-scoring form with Yeovil without a goal in their last four matches and their opponents having only scored once in their last five matches.
On loan Rotherham United striker Ciaran McGuckin leads the line at Huish Park today, supported by Morgan, Jordan Young and Frank Nouble, with striker Aaron Jarvis dropped to the substitutes’ bench.
Cooper added: “(Aldershot) will get after us, they are very forward thinking. They play with two number tens and it will be a difficult game. They are not in great goal-scoring form and nor are we – so it could be 9-9, couldn’t it?!
“We are not doing anything differently (in training). Statistically we are getting the ball in the right areas , it is just we have to produce more quality when we get in those areas, we can’t get there and smash it 40 yards over the bar or cross it behind the goal, we have to have a bit of quality.“