Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley has backed young midfielder Bradley Ibrahim for more first-team minutes ahead of Saturday's League One trip to face Leyton Orient. The 21-year-old is set for a potential start due to the loan restriction on Tyreeq Bakinson, who cannot play against his parent club.
Cleverley said Ibrahim's impact off the bench and his development over the past year have earned him a greater opportunity. The manager highlighted the player's performance against Crystal Palace's under-21s and his consistently high level in training, noting that people often forget how young he is at 21 and still learning.
Bakinson's absence opens door
The situation arises because Tyreeq Bakinson, who is on a season-long loan from Leyton Orient to Plymouth, is ineligible to face his parent club this weekend. Bakinson has started every game for Argyle since his late-August arrival, which has limited Ibrahim's opportunities. Ibrahim has featured in all eight of Plymouth's league games this season but has made just one start, a 2-0 defeat at Leicester City on September 1.
Cleverley acknowledged Bakinson's fine form but stressed the need for squad rotation, especially with a busy schedule of Saturday-Tuesday fixtures. He said the group has credit in the bank after a string of good performances, despite a 1-0 home defeat to Burton Albion last weekend, and that players training well deserve their chance.
Ibrahim's season so far
Bradley Ibrahim joined Plymouth Argyle on a four-year deal from Hertha Berlin in June 2025 for an undisclosed fee. After missing a large part of last season with an ankle injury, his only other starts this term have come in the Carabao Cup against Coventry City and the EFL Trophy against Crystal Palace's under-21s. Cleverley sees significant development in his game and expects to see more of him as the season progresses.
Leyton Orient, who sit 11th in League One with 10 points from seven games, will be looking to improve on a recent run of form that has seen them take just one win from their last five matches. Their last meeting with Plymouth ended in a 3-1 home defeat back in February. The O's will hope home advantage counts as they look to climb the standings.
Plymouth, currently fourth in the table, visit Brisbane Road this Saturday. After the match, Argyle travel to face Newport County in the EFL Trophy group stage next Tuesday, a fixture Cleverley referenced when discussing giving players a chance to prove their worth.
Background and full detail: Plymouth Live
