The 10 players set to miss Plymouth Argyle v Exeter City | OneFootball

Plymouth Argyle host Exeter City in the Devon derby at Home Park on Saturday, but both sides are dealing with injury issues ahead of the game.

Plymouth Argyle take on Exeter City in a hotly-anticipated Devon derby clash at Home Park in League One on Saturday afternoon.

After a poor first half of the season, Plymouth sat in the relegation zone as recently as early January, but a remarkable upturn in form since the turn of the year has seen them emerge as serious promotion contenders.

The Pilgrims suffered a surprise home defeat to 10-man Bolton Wanderers on Good Friday, but they returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Barnsley at Oakwell on Easter Monday to move up to seventh in the table, just two points from the play-off places, although they have played a game more than sixth-placed Stevenage.

While Plymouth have been on an upward trajectory in recent months, the same certainly cannot be said for Exeter, who have been dragged into the relegation dogfight after losing manager Gary Caldwell to Wigan Athletic in February.

However, there was a rare moment of positivity for the Grecians as they ended their 15-game winless run with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers at St James Park on Monday to give interim manager Matt Taylor his first win since returning to the club, and they are now only two points from safety.

As Plymouth go in search of revenge after their 2-0 defeat at Exeter back in October, both sides have a number of injury issues ahead of the game, and these players are set to be sidelined for Saturday's clash.

Julio Pleguezuelo - Plymouth Argyle

Defender Julio Pleguezuelo was a regular for Plymouth during their two-year spell in the Championship, but the 29-year-old has been limited to just eight appearances in all competitions this season due to injury.

Pleguezuelo made a brief return for the Pilgrims when he started in the defeat at Rotherham United in February before being substituted at half time, and he could miss the rest of the season after suffering a recurrence of a calf problem.

Herbie Kane - Plymouth Argyle

Midfielder Herbie Kane joined Plymouth on loan from Huddersfield Town in January, and he made a big impact at Home Park, scoring one goal and providing two assists in his first eight appearances for Argyle.

However, Kane has now returned to his parent club after sustaining what Pilgrims head coach Tom Cleverley described as a "significant hamstring tear", and he will not feature again for Argyle this season.

Joe Ralls - Plymouth Argyle

As Plymouth struggled towards the bottom of the table in the first half of the season, they signed experienced former Cardiff City midfielder Joe Ralls on a free transfer in November, and he certainly helped to steady the ship with some impressive performances.

After scoring one goal and registering one assist in 11 appearances for Argyle following his arrival, Ralls has been sidelined since late January with a hamstring injury, and while he will be out for the rest of the regular season, he could potentially be available for the play-offs if his side reach the top six.

Bradley Ibrahim - Plymouth Argyle

Midfielder Bradley Ibrahim made a bright start to life at Plymouth following his summer move from German side Hertha Berlin, scoring three goals and providing two assists in 21 appearances, but he has been plagued by injury in recent months.

Having last featured for the Pilgrims in February, Cleverley revealed that Ibrahim is set to return to training this week after recovering from an ankle injury, but the Exeter game will come too soon for him.

Aribim Pepple - Plymouth Argyle

It is fair to say it took striker Aribim Pepple a little while to get going at Plymouth after making the switch from Luton Town in the summer, but he has been in fine form in recent months, and he has now scored 15 goals in 37 appearances this season.

However, Pepple missed the victory at Barnsley on Monday with a minor calf injury, and Cleverley admitted it is "50-50" whether he will be able to feature against Exeter, with a "late decision" set to be made on his fitness.

Joe Whitworth - Exeter City

Goalkeeper Joe Whitworth re-joined Exeter for a second season-long loan spell from Crystal Palace in the summer, and he has enjoyed another strong campaign between the sticks, keeping 13 clean sheets in 43 appearances so far.

However, Whitworth has missed the last three games after suffering a lower leg injury in the warm-up before the 0-0 draw with Leyton Orient last month, and Jack Bycroft may again have to deputise at Home Park on Saturday.

Johnly Yfeko - Exeter City

After spending last season on loan at the club, Exeter took up their option to sign defender Johnly Yfeko on a permanent basis in the summer, but it has been a frustrating season for the 22-year-old.

Yfeko has made just 18 appearances in an injury-disrupted campaign for the Grecians this season, and after sitting out the victory over Doncaster on Monday, he is a doubt for this weekend's trip to Plymouth.

Jack Fitzwater - Exeter City

Defender Jack Fitzwater joined Exeter on a free transfer in September 2023 after his departure from Scottish side Livingston, and he was a mainstay in the team in the first half of this season, making 34 appearances in all competitions.

However, the last of those appearances came in the 5-1 home defeat to Bolton Wanderers in late February, and while Taylor is hopeful that the 28-year-old could return before the end of the season, he will be sidelined for the clash at Home Park.

Ed Turns - Exeter City

Defender Ed Turns made the move to Exeter from Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2025, and like Fitzwater, he had been a key part of the Grecians' defence for much of the season until his recent injury.

Turns has been sidelined since mid-February after being forced off at half time of the 3-3 draw at Peterborough United, and although Taylor did not rule him out from returning this season, he does not expect him to feature during the run-in.

Jake Doyle-Hayes - Exeter City

After a brief spell with Irish side Sligo Rovers, midfielder Jake Doyle-Hayes completed the switch to Exeter in the summer, and he has provided three assists in 25 appearances for the Grecians so far.

However, as with Fitzwater and Turns, Doyle-Hayes has been absent since February due to injury, and .