Ryan Hardie: Plymouth Argyle boosted by return of striker

Ryan Hardie has scored 55 goals since first joining Plymouth Argyle. initially on loan, in January 2020

Plymouth Argyle striker Ryan Hardie has returned to fitness after more than a month out with a hamstring injury.

The 26-year-old Scot was Argyle's top scorer before coming off early in the 3-2 loss at Ipswich Town on 28 October.

"It's good to have him back, he looks sharp in the sessions and looked lively enough," Argyle boss Steven Schumacher said before the game with Stoke City.

"It's probably too much of a risk to start him, but we'll see if we can get him some minutes."

Hardie has scored six goals in 16 appearances this season, with his tally only recently overtaken by team-mate Morgan Whittaker.

He scored five goals in his first six appearances of the season and last found the net in the 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on 25 October.

"He's a big part of how we play, especially on the transition," Schumacher told BBC Radio Devon.

"When we turn the ball over he's always threatening in behind, and also he works so hard out of possession, he doesn't give the defenders a minute throughout the game.

"If he can play at the intensity that he does for 60 or 70 minutes then we always find that space opens up towards the end of the games because of the work that Ryan's put in, so he's huge for the team and we've missed him the last few games, but it's good to have him back."