Plymouth Argyle striker Owen Oseni will miss the next six to seven weeks with an ankle injury, ruling him out of their upcoming League One fixture against Leyton Orient. The 23-year-old Nigeria international suffered a sprained ankle in a recent EFL Trophy match, a recurrence of a previous issue.

Head coach Tom Cleverley confirmed the extended absence after consulting a specialist. "I'm disappointed for him because his season's not got going," Cleverley said. The manager explained that because it is an ankle Oseni has injured before, the specialist advised taking more time to ensure stable healing, pushing a potential return to mid or late November.

Oseni was forced off after 33 minutes of Plymouth's 5-1 win over Crystal Palace Under-21s on 22 September. He had only just returned from a pre-season thigh injury that had caused him to miss the first six matches of the campaign, making two substitute appearances in early September before starting the Trophy tie. This latest setback disrupts his season after he scored 10 goals last term, and fans can check the club's full injuries list for updates on his recovery.

Plymouth's attacking options

With Oseni sidelined, Cleverley confirmed Will Evans and Bim Pepple are the only available out-and-out strikers. He expressed strong confidence in the versatility of Caleb Watts, who can play on the top line or just off it. "Caleb Watts's numbers for goals and assists per minute are just off the charts," the manager stated, indicating he will be a key part of their tactical response. The team's recent form, with 13 points from their first seven games, has them sitting fourth in the standings, but they will need to maintain that push without a key attacker.

The news comes as Leyton Orient prepare to host Plymouth at Brisbane Road on 3 October. Orient, currently 11th in League One with 10 points from seven games, will face a Pilgrims side that has scored 12 goals so far this season, averaging a goal every 52.5 minutes. Defender Julio Pleguezuelo is also a short-term absentee for Plymouth, with Cleverley describing his knee brace as precautionary and expecting him back within a couple of weeks. The manager will now have to rely on his remaining squad depth to handle this period, with the busy winter fixtures schedule fast approaching.

Oseni, who joined from St Mirren, will now focus on rehabilitation ahead of that busy period.