Plymouth Argyle have signed experienced striker Andre Gray on a short term deal as they look to counter an injury crisis in attacking areas.
33-year-old Gray has signed a deal at Home Park until January having left Saudi side Al-Riyadh in the summer and looks to be another option for Plymouth to fill gaps up front with several players out of action. The signing comes after the club’s Nigerian striker Muhamed Tijani was ruled out until the New Year with a torn hamstring, with Gray set to replace the 24-year-old while he is out injured. Gray, who will wear the number 19 shirt for Plymouth, has signed in time to play in this weekend’s fixture against Blackburn Rovers.
Speaking to Plymouth’s official channels, Pilgrims manager Wayne Rooney said, “Once we knew the severity of Muhamed’s injury, we moved quickly to bring in a striker to replace him.
“Andre is a striker of real quality and has played and scored goals at the highest level. He will provide competition in forward areas as we head into a busy period of the season, and I am really happy to have him here.”
Gray, who has 13 caps for Jamaica, arrives in Devon with plenty of experience in both the Championship and the EFL as a whole. He has recorded over 150 career goals of which 56 have been in the second tier, including 23 in Burnley’s promotion-winning 2016-17 season.
As well as his time in the Championship, he had a spell in the Premier League with Watford before dropping back down a division to join Queens Park Rangers. Since then he has played abroad for Al-Riyadh and Greek side Aris, but finds himself back in the EFL now with Plymouth.
Writer’s View
This is a great move for Plymouth who were looking worryingly thin up front, even before injuries. While he’s primarily been signed to cover for Muhammed Tijani while he is out, it wouldn’t be surprising if Gray is kept on beyond January to add another option for the rest of the season with his much-needed experience.
With that experience in mind, it is worth mentioning that Gray is 33 now and has spent a period away from the EFL. He may require a period of adjustment to the level of football and, given his age, may have lost a yard of pace. That is likely the least of Wayne Rooney’s worries though; he still knows where the back of the net is and that’s the only priority for Plymouth at the moment.
