Plymouth Argyle: Individual's top-5 ranking cushioning Sheffield United transfer blow: View | OneFootball

Daniel Grimshaw has proven himself to be an excellent pickup in the summer, as he fills the place of Michael Cooper in goal

Plymouth Argyle supporters were left biting their fingernails after the opening week of the 24/25 Championship season, as academy graduate Michael Cooper departed the club for Sheffield United.

The Blades were said to have forked out £2 million for the goalkeeper up front, with a similar amount accumulating with add-ons in the future, after the 25-year-old was unwilling to commit his future to the Devon side.

With Conor Hazard the only first-team goalkeeper at the club at the time, there were plenty of doubts over the season ahead, with the Northern Irishman’s abilities with the ball at his feet leaving a lot to be desired.

But the arrival of Dan Grimshaw has been revolutionary for the Greens’ fortunes this season, with his performances between the sticks helping his new boss settle in to his new surroundings at Home Park.

Michael Cooper, Sheffield United issue leaves Plymouth Argyle in the lurch

Argyle had been blessed by having one of the best goalkeepers in the Football League on their hands over previous seasons, with Cooper establishing himself as a safe pair of hands after emerging through the academy.

With over 100 appearances for the club, the shot-stopper had played a fundamental part in the Pilgrims establishing themselves as a Championship club, albeit with injury issues along the way.

So the fact that the local talent rejected a deal that was said to have made him the highest paid player at the club would have been hard to take for the Green Army, with one of their own wanting out of Home Park.

After weeks of speculation, a move to Bramall Lane eventually materialised in mid-August, leaving the Pilgrims heading back to the drawing board in terms of goalkeeping options, with an upgrade needed to help establish Rooney’s style of play across the board.

Dan Grimshaw has already proven his worth to Plymouth Argyle after Blackpool move

With a reported £600,000 fee agreed with Blackpool, Grimshaw made the move to Home Park in the final week of the summer transfer window, with the former Manchester City man already making his mark during his time in Devon.

With Hazard set to be out until the New Year with an ankle injury, the new recruit has been thrust into first-team action and has slotted into his new role with ease - making an impact both in and out of possession during his time at the club.

Firstly, in terms of the meat and drink as a goalkeeper, Grimshaw has already proven himself as one of the leading shot-stoppers in the second tier, with his 78.9% save ratio only topped by three other players in the division.

It will come as no surprise to most that Cooper is the man to top that particular stat, with an astonishing 92.3% of efforts coming his way being repelled, with the new Sheffield United recruit keeping six clean sheets ahead of the international break.

Swansea City’s Lawrence Vigouroux also ranks highly with 85.7%, while Sunderland’s highly-rated custodian Anthony Patterson can boast a 79.3% return, although that will have been affected by the three goals he conceded at Home Park in Argyle’s 3-2 victory over the Black Cats last month.

Although he is yet to keep a clean sheet for the Greens, the way Rooney [pictured] sets up his side means that he will always be called into action more than most goalkeepers in the division, with Argyle games naturally being end-to-end in their manner.

That has come up trumps so far in front of their own fans, with Grimshaw winning all three of his matches at Home Park to date, with that win over the Mackems marking the start of a run that saw Luton Town and Blackburn Rovers also return from Devon pointless.

Not only has his ability with the gloves proven him a worthy addition but it is his composure with the ball at his feet that sees him sit head and shoulders above Hazard in the battle for the number one spot at Home Park.

Regardless of the former Celtic man’s injury, it would have only been a matter of time before the new recruit was given the nod in goal, with his passing range helping Argyle to build attacks at the back, with the rest of his teammates having every confidence in him with the ball on the deck.

An average of 42.8 passes per 90 sees the Pilgrim rank among the top three stoppers in the division for enjoying possession, with Vigouroux (43.7) once again nearby, while Hull City’s Ivor Pandur leads the way with 52.1 per match.

As the 26-year-old continues to establish himself within Rooney’s setup, his influence in both regards is only likely to grow, with attacks now flowing from defence to attack in the blink of an eye, with an incisive pass from the man with the gloves often starting it off.

After the transfer turmoil that August brought, Grimshaw is further proof that Argyle knew what they were doing all along, with his effect on his new side proving as much as many of his outfield colleagues.

He may not be Michael Cooper, but he is certainly proving to be a more than capable replacement, and the Pilgrims look a much more solid outfit due to his arrival.