Michael Baidoo exit prediction made at Plymouth Argyle as potential Spurs blow looms | OneFootball

FLW's Plymouth Argyle fan pundit believes Michael Baidoo could be an important player once he returns from injury.

It has been an excellent start to the season for Plymouth Argyle in League One.

Despite sitting in the relegation zone in early January, Plymouth only missed out on the play-off places on the final day of last season after a stunning upturn in form, and their momentum has continued into the new campaign.

Plymouth Argyle make positive League One start despite Michael Baidoo injury blow

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It took Plymouth a little while to get going this season, with Tom Cleverley's men suffering defeats to promotion rivals Stockport County and Leicester City in the opening weeks, but the Devon outfit now seem to be hitting their stride.

The Pilgrims secured their third consecutive victory with a 4-2 win over Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on Saturday, and they now sit third in the League One table, just one point behind second-placed Sheffield Wednesday and two points behind leaders Bradford City.

Argyle have made a strong start to the campaign despite being without midfielder Michael Baidoo, who is expected to be sidelined until at least November after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury sustained in pre-season.

Baidoo became Plymouth's record signing when he joined the club from Swedish side Elfsborg in January 2025 for a fee of £1.5 million, but he has made just 13 appearances for the Pilgrims so far, and he spent the entirety of last season on loan at Umm Salal in Qatar.

However, after returning to Home Park this summer, Baidoo made a positive impression in pre-season, and he was expected to feature regularly for Argyle this campaign before his injury struck, with Cleverley describing him as "someone who could really add something to the squad".

Exciting Michael Baidoo, Plymouth Argyle claim dropped amid Oliver Irow recall fears

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When asked for his thoughts on Baidoo's future at the club, FLW's Plymouth Argyle fan pundit Luke Hodge insisted that the 27-year-old will not be sold in January, and he predicted that he could have a key role to play once he returns to full fitness.

With fears increasing among the Pilgrims faithful that Tottenham Hotspur loanee Oliver Irow, who has scored four goals in six appearances so far this season, could be recalled in January, Luke also suggested that Baidoo could be a good replacement for the winger after catching the eye while playing on the left in pre-season.

"I don't see an exit coming in January at all," Luke told FLW.

"If anything, I think Michael Baidoo could be one of the more important players in the last few months of the season, assuming this is the promotion-chasing campaign we're really hoping it is.

"He looked really sharp in the friendlies, he made a proper pre-season impact before a hamstring injury took him out for a few months in August.

"That's the frustrating part because he's finally starting to look settled.

"You watch him now and he seems incredibly happy at Argyle, he's playing with a smile on his face for the first time since he's arrived.

"A big part of that is Tom Cleverley and the way he wants the team to play, so the idea that he would want out or that the club would push him out doesn't stack up for me.

"Don't forget we paid around £1.5 million for him when we were still in the Championship, club-record money at the time.

"He's played Europa League football, he's scored at that level, including against sides like Roma, so League One should not scare him.

"If anything, you'd like to think he'd be a standout at this level once he's fit and up to speed.

"He's quite versatile as well, ideally he's a number 10, but, in pre-season, he was doing a really good job off the left before Oliver Irow came in from Spurs.

"That gives you extra cover if Irow gets recalled or sold in January, and, even if he stays, I still think that Baidoo will play a major part.

"He's a different profile with different qualities, and Cleverley likes having those options.

"The Green Army are excited about his return, and I am too.

"Get him back in January, give him a few weeks to blow the cobwebs off, and I think you'll see why people were so high on him in the summer.

"I don't see him being sold, I see him being part of the push."

Michael Baidoo will be like a new signing for Plymouth Argyle amid fresh Home Park hope

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It is fair to say that Plymouth supporters have not seen the best of Baidoo since his big-money arrival almost two years ago, but it seems he could be given a clean slate by Cleverley once he returns from injury.

Baidoo scored 29 goals in 99 appearances during his time at Elfsborg, which convinced the Pilgrims to pay a seven-figure fee for his services, so he is clearly a player with a lot of talent, and he could be a real asset in League One if he can stay fit.