First team coach Kevin Nancekivell has predicted that club record signing Michael Baidoo will be ‘an exciting player’ for Plymouth Argyle.
Baidoo, 25, has trained with the Pilgrims all week after completing his move from Swedish side IF Elfsborg last Friday and is in line to make his debut in the Emirates FA Cup third round tie against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium tomorrow. Poland international left-back Tymoteusz Puchacz could also get a first run-out for Argyle following his loan signing from German Bundesliga club Holstein Kiel yesterday.
The attacking versatility of Baidoo, who has starred for Elfsborg in their UEFA Europa League campaign this season and scored the winning goal in a notable 1-0 win against Italian Serie A opponents AS Roma, should be a big plus for Argyle.
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Nancekivell said: “He’s going to be an exciting player for us. He’s a forward-thinking player. He can play as a front man as a nine, or he can play as a 10 or an eight, so he’s technically very good. It will be nice to get him up to speed with the rigours of English football but I have liked what I have seen so far.”
When asked whether Baidoo would make his debut at Brentford, Nancekivell replied: “I hope so. We haven’t finalised the team yet, we are still working on that, but if he’s available to play he will play.”
Brentford are 11th in the Premier League and their boss Thomas Frank is expected to make a number of changes to his side for the FA Cup clash, which will be followed for them by home games against reigning champions Manchester City next Tuesday and current table-toppers Liverpool on Saturday, January 18.
The Bees were unbeaten at the Gtech Community Stadium for their first eight home league games this season but have lost the last two, against Nottingham Forest (2-0) and Arsenal (3-1).
However, Brentford bounced back from their New Year’s Day defeat by Arsenal with a thumping 5-0 win away to Southampton last Saturday. Regardless of how many changes Frank makes they are sure to provide very strong opposition for Argyle.
Nancekivell said: “We are looking forward to it, we are relishing it. We are playing a Premier League team. It’s a little breather from the pressures of the league. Hopefully we can put up a good show and give our supporters something to cheer about.
“They are a good team. Our analysis guys go through all of that and they have been busy at work telling us how good they are so it’s going to be a challenge for us, but we have got a little bit of momentum going at the minute. We will go there with some confidence and see what we can.”
Nancekivell was referring to the back-to-back Championship draws, 2-2 at home to Bristol City and 0-0 draw away to Stoke City, since Wayne Rooney left the club on New Year’s Eve.
“We have been pleased with our two performances so hopefully we can build on that,” said Nancekivell. “It’s another away game and if we can put in a gritty performance like we did at Stoke then that’s all I can ask.”
He added: “We will go there with the intent to win and to get through to the next round, but obviously within that game plan we will have to be pretty disciplined and very respectful of a good Brentford team.
“The FA Cup is special to everybody. One of this football club’s biggest days was 1984 in the FA Cup semi-final (against Watford). We want more days like that. We have had some good days at Arsenal, against Liverpool, Chelsea wasn’t so long ago as well so we have got a little bit of a history with it. We want to build on that.”
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