Confirmed: EFL allow Plymouth Argyle to make key squad change | OneFootball

Kornel Szucs' departure last week from the Pilgrims has allowed one forgotten man to be re-registered for action

Plymouth Argyle have been allowed to reinstate Ayman Benarous into their EFL squad list, after Kornel Szucs departed the club last week.

Szucs left Home Park to join Serbian side FK Vojvodina last Friday. Despite the transfer window in England closing two weeks ago, the Serbian transfer window didn't shut until February 13, meaning the Serbian Superliga side managed to get the deal done in time.

The 24-year-old hadn't started a league game since late November, but was a regular feature off the bench for Tom Cleverley's side. Therefore, when it came to submitting the squad list to the EFL for the remainder of the campaign, Szucs was involved.

At the cost of that, though, was Ayman Benarous. With Argyle one man over the permitted number of senior players allowed in the squad, the 22-year-old was left by the wayside and was reportedly exploring a loan to a National League club for the rest of the campaign.

However, according to Plymouth Live, this won't be the case anymore, as the versatile midfielder has been re-inserted into the squad.

Ayman Benarous is back in the Plymouth Argyle squad following 24-year-old's departure

Tom Cleverley was happy to reveal that the EFL had accepted Plymouth's proposal to admit Benarous back into the squad for the second half of the campaign, after Szucs's departure left them one man light.

The Pilgrims' boss stated that the club were trying to explore a move to a National League side on loan to maintain gametime, but now that doesn't need to be the case.

"I'm pleased for Ayman. He has trained fantastically well after the disappointment of being left out," Cleverley said, via Plymouth Live.

"Football changes really quickly. Ayman could still be part of the biggest moment of the season for this football club. He has trained like he still believes that. We have submitted and had accepted his reinstatement to the squad.

"Football is difficult. He knows that, I know that. It's how resilient you can be through those difficult times, and he has shown nothing but a good attitude.

"We were working with him to try and get him a loan move, and that didn't come off, so now Ayman will be reinstated and be a well-respected part of our squad."

Benarous hasn't featured for Plymouth since he was withdrawn at half-time during the Boxing Day drubbing at home to Reading. He has also missed the last four League One squads.

However, the 22-year-old will now be available for selection once more and will have a point to prove when he does finally return to action.

EFL decision a rare change in fortune for Ayman Benarous

It's hard to think of a more unfortunate player in the EFL over the past four years than Benarous, which is a real shame given how promising he looked as a teenager during his brief time in the Bristol City senior fold.

The time was brief only because of injury, as two serious knee issues and hamstring surgery saw him miss three years of action between 2022 and 2025. His Plymouth bow on August 9th last year was his first competitive appearance since April 2022.

After being in and out of the fold throughout the campaign thus far at Home Park, starting five and making seven substitute appearances in League One, the 22-year-old was dealt yet another setback when he was removed from Plymouth's registered squad for EFL games.

However, in a rare change in fortune, the 22-year-old will be able to play League One games once more, instead of having to finish up the season playing non-league football if he wants to keep his game time up.

It's a lifeline for Benarous, who clearly possesses the talent to be a regular fixture in the Plymouth side. He and Pilgrims fans will be hoping that this decision can give him a much-needed boost for the rest of the campaign.