Wayne Rooney
Plymouth Argyle manager Wayne Rooney
Plymouth Argyle manager Wayne Rooney saw his side halt their losing streak with a 3-3 draw against Middlesbrough on Saturday, but the result came with significant setbacks.
Striker Ryan Hardie, who assisted Lewis Gibson's opener, was taken off after sixty minutes and could be out of action until the new year. The point gained ended a series of four consecutive defeats for Rooney's squad, which had let in 14 goals over that spell.
Although leading three times in the match, Argyle were pegged back with Emmanuel Latte Lath's equaliser for Boro coming only six minutes from the final whistle. Injuries didn't just strike Hardie; Michael Obafemi exited early, surviving only nine minutes on the pitch.
Fortunately, Hardie's condition isn't as severe as initially assumed. "Initially when they looked at Ryan they thought it had gone through his tendon but from assessment it hasn't," Rooney detailed. "It's quite a deep gash, which he has just had stitched up.
"It's in an awkward place really, it's right on the bottom of his knee and bending his leg won't help it heal. I haven't seen it back but when he slid in for the tackle I'm assuming he has caught the lad's stud."
Rooney is bracing to cope without Hardie throughout the intense holiday schedule. "I'm a player who has had a lot of them gashes and I think it was the right call to take him off," the former Manchester United star added. "I'm sure it will probably be the Christmas period he would be out.
"That's disappointing because in the last two games he has done well for us. Normally your stitches are in for a week or so but just given where it is, every time he walks or moves he's going to have to bend his leg so it's a tricky one to heal."
Gibson's goal seven minutes before half-time meant Plymouth led at the break as they chased a first win since November 5, only for Jonny Howson to equalise early in the second period. Darko Gyabi and Hayden Hackney then exchanged goals, before Mustapha Bundu's effort was cancelled out by Latte Lath.
Plymouth are bottom at Christmas after results elsewhere went against them, though they're only one point from safety. Middlesbrough, meanwhile, are just inside the play-off spots on goals scored.
Middlesbrough boss and Rooney's former United team-mate Michael Carrick expressed his frustration, stating: "The boys kept going, but to come to a place like this... and defend like we did at times makes it much more difficult than it should have been," in a conversation with club media after the draw.
Get United transfer news and updates on WhatsApp!
Our team of Manchester United experts are on top of all the goings-on at Old Trafford for this week and beyond, and you can get the latest team news, injury updates, reaction and analysis along with inside information to your phone by joining our new free WhatsApp community. You can also join the 50,000 (and growing!) band of United fans who are following our WhatsApp Channel.
Sign up to our community here, and join our WhatsApp channel here.
--
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.