Plymouth Argyle manager Miron Muslic has backed Malachi Boateng to play a significant role for the club despite his limited game time since arriving from Hearts earlier this month.
The 22-year-old midfielder was a deadline-day signing and is currently working to adapt to the team’s tactical demands.
Muslic Explains Boateng’s Slow Start
Boateng made his debut as a substitute in Argyle’s stunning 1-0 FA Cup victory over Liverpool at Home Park but has remained on the bench in the club’s last two league fixtures against Millwall and Blackburn Rovers. His absence from the starting XI has raised questions, but Muslic insists it is down to a lack of training time rather than any concerns over the player’s quality.
With Plymouth facing a hectic fixture schedule, Muslic explained that recovery sessions have taken priority over full training, limiting Boateng’s opportunity to fully integrate.
“I’m very happy with him and I think he proved against Liverpool the value he can add to our team,” Muslic said. “I don’t think it’s an easy game entering the last 15, 20 minutes against Liverpool and he did it fantastic to finish it together with Darko.”
“The only little issue is that we just go from game to game, we don’t have training time and there are a lot of things he has to understand tactically. He just purely missed this right now due to the heavy schedule.”
Competition for Midfield Places
Boateng’s arrival has intensified competition for places in Plymouth’s midfield, with Adam Randell, Darko Gyabi, and Jordan Houghton all vying for starting spots. Randell has recently captained the team, making selection decisions even tougher for Muslic.
However, the manager remains confident that Boateng will soon be fully integrated and pushing for regular starts.
“He’s very close to the team. As soon as we have a clean week that will be his next step towards the starting XI and towards being selectable,” Muslic added.
What’s Next for Boateng?
Plymouth fans may have to wait a little longer to see Boateng in the starting lineup, but Muslic’s comments suggest that once the club has a less congested schedule, the midfielder will have his opportunity. His performance against Liverpool showed glimpses of his potential, and with more training time, he could become a key figure in the Pilgrims’ midfield.
Writer’s View
Boateng’s slow integration into the squad makes sense given Plymouth’s packed schedule, but it is clear that Muslic rates him highly. His cameo against Liverpool demonstrated his composure and tactical awareness, which could prove vital as the season progresses.
