Will Evans has asked Plymouth Argyle supporters for a little patience, but says there is no doubt in his own mind that the goals will arrive. The 29-year-old forward, who joined Home Park from Mansfield Town last week on a two-year deal, missed a handful of clear chances on his debut in a 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Exeter City and acknowledged afterwards that the misses were not good enough.

"I know that at least one, maybe two of those chances should be hitting the back of the net," he told BBC Radio Devon. "I've given myself a little bit of leeway with the fact that it's been a hectic week. I came down on the Friday, meeting new players, fitting into new systems, new ideas, new tactics. There's a lot of information that perhaps people don't see on the outside."

The Carabao Cup, of course, is not what Argyle fans are ultimately concerned with. It is Saturday's opening League One fixture, away at Stockport County, where Evans will be expected to make an early impression in the third tier with his new club. He is aware of that pressure and seems to be actively seeking it out rather than shying away.

"I'm not too worried about that, I know the goals will come," he said. "I'll never let anyone question my work rate and what I give for the team. It was one of them where I wanted to make a bit of a statement to say that I'm not a pushover, I've not just come down here to have a jolly up. I want to prove to myself, to the fans, to my team-mates that I'll be an excellent addition."

A scouting story worth telling

The circumstances of Evans's move have a pleasing, slightly unlikely quality to them. The Welsh forward scored the opening goal when Mansfield beat Plymouth 2-0 at Field Mill in late October, a result that apparently caught the attention of Argyle manager Tom Cleverley. A quiet word between managers after the match, passed on by Nigel Clough at Mansfield's training ground the following day, planted a seed that eventually led to a summer transfer.

"I remember Nigel Clough coming into training the next day and he just said 'he was a big fan of you' and that's pretty much as far as it went," Evans recalled. "It was probably like a passing compliment, but I didn't really know of the concrete interest until probably a few weeks ago."

For a player who scored 11 goals in all competitions for Mansfield last season, the move represents a genuine step up in ambition, even if Evans is careful not to overstate his own experience. He is, he points out, only heading into his fifth year as a professional footballer despite being 29.

"As much as you might say I'm an experienced striker, I'm only going into my fifth year as a professional footballer," he said. "So yes, life experience, perhaps I've got a bit of an upper hand. But I've still got that desire and want to learn and want to improve."

Cleverley's track record with forwards

What may reassure Argyle supporters is the context Cleverley brings. The Plymouth boss has publicly pledged to work on Evans's finishing, and he has recent form to back that promise up. Lorent Tolaj and Bim Pepple both had strong campaigns under Cleverley last season, suggesting the manager has a genuine eye for developing attacking players rather than simply inheriting them fully formed.

Evans says his pre-signing conversations with Cleverley gave him confidence that this is a club that will work with him rather than simply expect results without input.

"I had a good chat with him before I came down about what he wants from me for the team and what he can do to improve me," he said. "That's just my mentality. It's the type of bloke I am that I don't want to take an easy route."

Plymouth supporters will be the ultimate judges of whether the goals arrive on schedule. The league campaign starts at Stockport on Saturday, and a first third-tier goal for Evans would go some considerable way toward quieting any lingering doubts from that cup debut.

Frequently asked

When did Will Evans sign for Plymouth Argyle?
Will Evans joined Plymouth Argyle from Mansfield Town in early August, signing a two-year deal ahead of the new League One season.
How many goals did Will Evans score last season?
Evans scored 11 goals in all competitions for Mansfield Town during the 2024-25 season before his move to Plymouth.
Who is Plymouth Argyle's manager?
Plymouth Argyle are managed by Tom Cleverley, who has pledged to work on improving Evans's finishing during his time at Home Park.