Loan move for Plymouth Argyle prospect Freddie Issaka still being planned

Tom Cleverley has confirmed Plymouth Argyle are still planning to loan out their 20-year-old attacking prospect Freddie Issaka.

Two of the Pilgrims' other young professionals, Tegan Finn and Caleb Roberts, joined National League South club Torquay United at the start of this week.

Both made their debuts in the Gulls' away game against Maidenhead United on Tuesday night, with Finn getting their final goal in a 4-0 win.

Although the transfer window is closed, Issaka can still be loaned to a club in the National League - as was the case when he had a spell with Truro City last season - or in National League South.

The Wales under-21 international played for 66 minutes of Argyle's 3-2 Premier League Under-21 Cup defeat by Cardiff City at Home Park on Tuesday.

On the same evening, Finn and Roberts made their Torquay debuts and Cleverley received good reports about the pair of them.

He said: "Caleb was on the end of a shocking challenge. The fella got sent-off but it was a real bad one, so lucky he came through that. Tegan had two goal involvements so a good start for them both.

"We have a really good relationship with Torquay. It's a very good level that they are playing, they have got expectations to be in the top six, maybe even the top two or three.

"It's important they experience that this year. It's a key time in their careers and they have to play 25-30 games this season."

Roberts also had a spell at Truro last season and Cleverley hopes the 20-year-old midfielder can build on that with Torquay, but this is the first time Finn, 18, has been loaned out.

Cleverley said: "Caleb obviously did well in the National League and he was going back a level (with Torquay), which we didn't particularly want, but their ambitions and the size of the club was a key factor in getting him that experience.

"I'm a guy who went out on loan three times and each one gave me something different. We are handpicking their loans carefully and wisely for their development and hopefully get them back closer to our first team."

The same applies to Issaka. Cleverley said: "The plan is for Freddie to get 25-30 games this season for his development. I think we forget how young Freddie still is.

"He has got a lot of progress in him and he has got a great attitude to reach that potential. The plan is Freddie still could go out on loan."

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