--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-07-28T15:11:53.525Z last_updated: 2026-07-27T08:20:50+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/plymouth-argyle/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucGx5bW91dGhoZXJhbGQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvYWxleC1taXRjaGVsbC1leHBlY3RlZC1zb29uLXVwLTExMDc4MDE3 --- # Alex Mitchell expected to be soon up to full speed for Argyle - **Source:** - **Published:** 27 Jul - **Club:** Plymouth Argyle - **Original URL:** https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/alex-mitchell-expected-soon-up-11078017 Mitchell completed a transfer from Charlton Athletic last week, following a highly successful loan to the Pilgrims in 2025/26, for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract. The 24-year-old got his first minutes of the pre-season when Argyle beat Truro City 1-0 in their latest warm-up match, renewing his partnership in central defence with Mathias Ross. Read More: Argyle working on Lorent Tolaj replacement 'as quick as possible' Read More: Argyle pulling power for south-west pre-season game crowds Mitchell played the first half as he was eased back into the action and then carried out a warm down with lead physical performance coach John Lucas on the pitch during the break. Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley thought Mitchell made an immediate difference compared to when his side won 1-0 away to Torquay United last Tuesday. Cleverley said: "He slotted in where he left off. I thought our distances as a team were much better than Tuesday. We were more compact, we could get pressure on the ball, we have created more turnovers. "Mitch's pace helps with that, helps us keep a bit more of a positive line. The team is therefore more compact. Everyone can get a little bit closer to people and we create good turnover moments." Argyle are next in pre-season action against Championship club Bristol City at Home Park this Saturday (August 1), and will then start gearing up for the Devon derby visit of Exeter City in the Carabao Cup first round a fortnight today. That will be followed by the League One season-opener at home to Stockport County on Saturday, August 15. Cleverley added about the fitness levels of Mitchell: "He has come back in incredible condition. That's not an issue. More minutes against Bristol City, probably even more against Exeter and he will be ready for Stockport. "Someone who has got a good injury record, someone who has in an incredibly good physical condition and we will build his minutes up safely." Cleverley admitted he was always hopeful Mitchell would return to Argyle this summer, even though there was interest in him from Wycombe Wanderers. "We have got a strong connection," said the Pilgrims' boss. "We have had to be respectful because he has not been our player contractually but we knew there was a chance of it happening. "We are pleased he's ours for good now and he gives us a better chance of keeping clean sheets." One of the biggest storylines of Argyle's pre-season so far has been the impact of Michael Baidoo, who made it three goals in four games with his late winning strike against Truro. Tom Cleverley went with a strong starting line-up in Cornwall, with Xavier Amaechi and Ronan Curtis playing in the wide midfield positions as part of the Pilgrims' 4-4-2 formation, and Baidoo was among the substitutes. The 27-year-old was sent on shortly after the hour mark, playing on the left and cutting inside, and that is what led to him scoring the winning goal in the 83rd minute. Freddie Issaka played the ball into the feet of Baidoo and he came up with a clinical finish, which while it did not have much power behind it the placement of his shot was perfect. Cleverley said: "The game was crying out for a bit of quality and Michael has certainly got that. He's quicker than people think as well so he brings us pace. "He has good quality, he's very good on the ball. Can I introduce the real competitive side into his game to make him a more complete player is the challenge? "But, yeah, three goals in four games. He brought the one key moment to a game that was crying out for a bit of quality." Tom Cleverley was keen to acknowledge the 'very assured' performance of goalkeeper Murphy Cooper after Argyle's narrow win against Truro. It was not that Cooper, the summer signing from Queens Park Rangers had lots to do during the game, but the way he went about what he had to do. The one big save the 24-year-old had to make was in added time at the end of the first half when former Argyle striker Luke Jephcott curled a free-kick towards the inside of the far post and Cooper flung himself to his left to push the ball wide at the last moment. Cooper played the whole of the game at the Truro City Stadium, after James Storer had got in all of the 90 minutes-plus away to Torquay United. Storer, the 21-year-old close season recruit from Wolverhampton Wanderers, is set to be Cooper's back-up in the new season and Cleverley has been pleased with what he has seen from both of them so far. Cleverley said: "I thought Murphy Cooper was very assured. I have got two good goalkeepers on my hands this pre-season has proved, both with different qualities. "A real good goalkeeping department to pick from. I was equally as pleased with Murphy as I was with Mitch." With Wes Harding and Jack MacKenzie both Argyle absentees against Truro, it was Alex Hartridge who started the latest pre-season fixture at left-back. The 27-year-old, who joined from Burton Albion this summer, had started as the left-side centre-back in the previous two games, away to Bath City and Torquay United. However, Hartridge has plenty of experience playing at left-back in his career and certainly could be an option to start the season there, with MacKenzie out injured. When the returning Alex Mitchell was substituted at half-time against Truro, Hartridge then moved into central defence for the second period as Argyle went on to keep a third clean sheet in four games. Hartridge also brings a long throw-in threat when he is playing so he must be in the thoughts of Tom Cleverley when it comes to team selection at the start of the season, even after the signing of Mitchell. A number of Argyle's apprentices have had game-time with the first team during the pre-season because of injuries to some of the professionals and while Tom Cleverley's squad is being built up numbers wise. The knee surgery to Jack MacKenzie has left the Pilgrims a little light on left-back options so that has led to an opportunity for Jared Rendle to show what he can do. Rendle, a second-year apprentice who previously studied at Looe Community Academy, has played in all four of the pre-season games, and started one of them - the 3-0 win at Bath City. The teenager was a half-time substitute for Alex Mitchell at Truro and lined up at left-back, which meant he was directly up against Truro's Tom Tweedy, a Wales under-21 international signed from Burnley this summer. Tweedy gave Rendle some testing moments early on but to the credit of the Argyle youngster his performance got stronger as the second half went on. He will continue his football development with Jamie Lowry's under-18s squad when the season gets underway but Rendle has used his opportunities in the recent matches to leave a positive impression on Cleverley. You can read more of our Argyle stories from Plymouth Live by clicking HERE PlymouthLive has launched a Plymouth Argyle transfer news and top stories group on WhatsApp and we want you to join us. 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