Plymouth Argyle are sweating on the fitness of striker Owen Oseni after the 23-year-old was ruled out until at least the end of November with an ankle injury, head coach Tom Cleverley has confirmed.

Oseni was forced off after 33 minutes of the Pilgrims' 5-1 win over Crystal Palace Under-21s in the EFL Trophy on 22 September, and a specialist's assessment has prompted the club to take a cautious approach to his recovery.

"Because it's an ankle he's injured in the past, the specialist has advised we take a little bit more time to make sure that ankle heals and is as stable as it can be," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon.

The timing is particularly frustrating. Oseni had only just returned from a thigh injury picked up late in pre-season, managing two substitute appearances in League One in early September before this latest setback arrived in what Cleverley candidly described as "a sort of nothing action of the game".

"He missed a large part of the pre-season and then he's trying to chase a little bit of fitness," the head coach added. "Then in a sort of nothing action of the game, chasing a ball into the channel, the defender falls on him and his ankle sprains. I'm disappointed for him because his season's not got going."

The Nigeria international had done enough last season to build genuine expectation around his second campaign at Home Park. He scored 10 goals in 33 appearances after arriving from Scottish Premiership side St Mirren, earning a first senior cap for Nigeria in May. That form made him one of the more anticipated figures heading into 2026-27; instead he has barely been available.

With Oseni unavailable for the foreseeable future, Cleverley will need to lean on others to carry the attacking threat in League One. The division shows little sympathy for injury lists, and Plymouth will be expected to cope without a player who has yet to register a league start this term.

Pleguezuelo scare less serious than feared

There is, at least, some relief on the injury front elsewhere in the squad. Defender Julio Pleguezuelo, who left Home Park in a knee brace after coming off with 16 minutes remaining in last week's 1-0 defeat to Burton Albion, is expected to be fit again within a couple of weeks following a scan.

"It was completely precautionary," Cleverley said of the knee brace. "We have to do these things if ever there's a slight instability in a knee or an ankle. Having got the scan done very quickly, we've ruled out any major damage to the inside of the knee."

The 29-year-old Spaniard had started seven of Plymouth's eight League One fixtures before the Burton game, and his return will come as a significant boost for a side that has relied heavily on his presence at the back.

In short: Pleguezuelo's scare was worse-looking than it turned out to be, while Oseni's latest ankle problem is more serious than the moment itself might have suggested. For a club with ambitions at the right end of the third-tier table, managing both situations carefully over the coming weeks will matter.

Frequently asked

How long is Owen Oseni out for Plymouth Argyle?
Oseni is expected to be sidelined until at least the end of November 2026 with an ankle injury, according to head coach Tom Cleverley.
What happened to Julio Pleguezuelo against Burton Albion?
Pleguezuelo came off with 16 minutes to go in Plymouth's 1-0 loss to Burton and left the ground in a knee brace. However, scans have ruled out any major damage and he is likely to be back within a couple of weeks.
How many goals did Owen Oseni score last season for Plymouth?
Oseni scored 10 goals in 33 appearances for Plymouth Argyle last season after joining from Scottish side St Mirren.