Plymouth v AFC Wimbledon preview

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Plymouth will be boosted by the availability of Maxime Blanchard when they host the Wombles.

The French defender served his one-match ban on Friday as his Argyle team-mates were thumped 4-0 at Bury and he could come back into the matchday squad against the Dons.

Manager John Sheridan was furious with his side’s display at Gigg Lane and he looks set to ring the changes for the Home Park clash with the Pilgrims’ play-off bid all but over.

Tyler Harvey, Nathan Thomas and Paul Wotton all dropped to the bench against the Shakers and will be hoping for recalls.

AFC Wimbledon will check on the fitness of Tom Richards ahead of the trip to the Pilgrims.

The on-loan Fulham defender missed Friday’s 2-2 draw against Newport through illness and was replaced at left-back by Jim Fenlon.

Skipper Alan Bennett could return after shaking off a thigh strain but winger Kevin Sainte-Luce is set to miss out with knee trouble.

Rhys Weston (knee) and Charlie Strutton (broken leg) are long-term absentees for the Dons, who are unbeaten in their last three outings.

Plymouth v AFC Wimbledon preview

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Argyle boss Carl Fletcher will check on the fitness of Onismor Bhasera and Warren Feeney.

The duo were both replaced during the 1-1 draw with Wycombe in midweek.

Midfielder Bhasera received a cut to his cheek while striker Feeney suffered a groin injury and Fletcher took the precaution of withdrawing them as the Pilgrims stretched their unbeaten run to four games.

Durrell Berry returns after serving a one-match ban for picking up five yellow cards and is expected to replace Curtis Nelson at right-back.

Loan duo Alex MacDonald and Guy Madjo could be making their last appearances for the club as their deals run out after the game, but Fletcher is hopeful the club can keep the pair for another month.

Veteran midfielder Paul Wotton is still sidelined with a groin problem and will play no part.

AFC Wimbledon have a host of injury doubts.

Centre-halves Dale Bennett, Mat Mitchel-King (both back) and Pim Balkestein (groin) are expected to miss out again.

Full-back Curtis Osano’s ankle injury will be checked over along with midfielder Stacy Long, who is close to returning from a foot injury.

Defender Callum McNaughton (knee) and striker Jason Prior (broken leg) remain long-term absentees.

Simon Bassey will take charge of what looks like being his last game as caretaker boss.

The Dons now have a shortlist of three candidates to replace Terry Brown, who was sacked last month, and hope to have a new manager in place by the time they face Cheltenham next Saturday.

Plymouth v AFC Wimbledon preview

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Plymouth are burdened with injuries as Carl Fletcher and Robbie Williams are both unfit.

The Pilgrims were demolished 4-1 by Rotherham on Saturday and skipper Fletcher had to be replaced in the second half after aggravating a thigh strain which put him out of the Carling Cup defeat to Millwall.

Manager Peter Reid told the club’s official website: “We’ll have to assess him.

“I don’t know whether it is a bang or muscular, so we’ll have to find out.”

Williams, 26, missed the visit of the Millers because of a bruised heel he picked up in pre-season.

“Robbie is going to be at least a week, so I would count him out for midweek and it’s 50-50 for the weekend,” added Reid.

Wimbledon will check on Lee Minshull ahead of the clash with Plymouth.

The midfielder has travelled to Devon with the rest of the squad despite complaining of a sore heel following Saturday’s victory at Dagenham.

Boss Terry Brown has named an unchanged squad after the Dons’ historic first win as a Football League club.

Defender Mat Mitchel-King will miss out again despite resuming full training on Monday.

The summer signing from Crewe was sidelined throughout pre-season by a bout of glandular fever and the Dons are taking no chances with his fitness.

Fellow defender Fraser Franks, who has been out since March with a knee injury, is due back in training in the next fortnight.