Tom Cleverley has new Plymouth Argyle dilemma - Luton Town may be watching with interest | OneFootball

Aribim Pepple has recently hit a rich vein of form for Plymouth Argyle

Aribim Pepple made the permanent switch from Luton Town to Plymouth Argyle this summer, and after a slow and unsuccessful adjustment period, the Canadian has hit a rich vein of form, giving boss Tom Cleverley a real selection headache.

It’s been a real rollercoaster of a season for Plymouth upon their return to League One this season.

The Pilgrims had spent the previous two seasons in the Championship, but neither Wayne Rooney nor Miron Muslic could keep the club afloat last campaign, as they succumbed to relegation and chose former Watford boss Cleverley as the man to lead them back into the third tier.

Life under Cleverley at Home Park began shaky, to say the least, with the 36-year-old’s position coming under serious scrutiny on numerous occasions. However, an upturn in form over the past couple of months has seen the club place themselves in a strong position to push for a play-off place come May, partly down to the form of Canadian forward Aribim Pepple.

The 23-year-old has scored in each of his last three games, including one away to Leyton Orient, meaning star striker Lorent Tolaj could only find a place on the bench, creating a superb problem for Cleverley to have.

Aribim Pepple has been in excellent form as of late for Plymouth Argyle

Pepple first moved to English shores in the summer of 2022, joining Luton Town from Canadian Premier League side Cavalry FC, and would head out on a series of loan spells to the likes of Grimsby, Bromley, Inverness, Southend, and Chesterfield, all to varying degrees of success.

Having been unable to make an impact in Luton’s first team, Pepple made the permanent move to Plymouth this summer, and though life started slowly at Home Park, he seems to have found his goalscoring touch in recent weeks.

Pepple has netted in each of his last three league games and six in his last eight across all competitions, keeping star striker Lorent Tolaj out of the starting 11 as a result.

The 23-year-old has been firmly behind Tolaj in the pecking order for the majority of the season, but Cleverley has little choice but to keep starting Pepple at the moment, with the Canadian in the form of his life.

It creates an excellent dilemma for Cleverley to have, who, although he won’t want to keep Tolaj on the bench, would rather have two strikers firing on all cylinders than one lacking confidence.

If Pepple can continue this rich vein of form, Cleverley’s headache will only increase, as he simply cannot leave Tolaj, who has 12 goals and four assists in 25 league games this season, out for too long, however well the Canadian is performing.

Jack Wilshere and Luton Town will be watching Aribim Pepple’s exploits at Plymouth Argyle with interest

Indeed, Luton themselves have had a season full of highs and lows, which has culminated in the Hatters sitting just outside the play-off places as things stand.

Led by former Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere, Luton have had striker problems of their own, but not for the same reasons as Plymouth.

The Hatters have utilised an array of forwards across this campaign, with the likes of Joseph Gbode, Jacob Brown, Lasse Nordas, Jerry Yates, Ali Al-Hamadi, Nahki Wells, and Devante Cole all taking their turns to deputise up front at Kenilworth Road this season.

Cole was brought in this January from fellow third tier struggles Port Vale, whilst the aforementioned first four players are no longer at the club, all having left on loan.

With Pepple hitting form for Plymouth, Luton may start to have some regrets over their decision to sell the Canadian without giving him a proper chance in the first team, especially considering the number of players they’ve given chances to.

Whether the Hatters will live to rue the sale of Pepple remains to be seen, but it cannot be denied that he is in excellent form at the moment, which can only serve to frustrate those at Kenilworth Road.