Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley says he is relishing the return of midfielder Caleb Watts to fitness.
The 23-year-old Australian came on as a 67th-minute substitute in the 1-1 League One draw at Stevenage on New Year’s Day, setting up Malachi Boateng’s equaliser just moments after his introduction.
It was Watts’ first action three and a half months after recovering from a serious hamstring injury that required surgery.
“I thought Caleb, to say he’s been out for so long, was outstanding,” Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon.
“His intensity, his quality – he’s someone we’re really grateful to have back at our disposal because he’s played only a handful of games for the club.
“I think it’s a couple of goals, a couple of assists and quite clearly someone we’ve really missed.”
The draw – at a Stevenage side with League One’s best defensive record – means Argyle have lost just one of their past six matches, conceding one goal or fewer in five of those games.
Having been bottom of League One in early November with 13 points from 15 games, Argyle have more than doubled that tally in their past nine games and are only inside the relegation places on goal difference.
Next up, on Sunday, they host a Burton side just one place above the Pilgrims, knowing a win would lift Argyle out of the bottom four.
“It’s quite clear which direction it’s going in,” added the Argyle boss.
“Is it as smooth and comfortable as we’d like it to be? No, but football never is.
“The key thing now is we’re hard to beat, we’re heading in the right direction and we all know the importance of Sunday and making today look an even better point than we feel it is now.”
