Rooney needs more firepower to stop Pilgrims' plight

What do Plymouth need?

In short - goals. Only Hull and Cardiff have scored fewer goals than Argyle this season and someone who can reliably put the ball in the net would seem like a must if Wayne Rooney's side are to stay up.

What sort of business are they likely to do?

Argyle's attacking problems stem mainly from injuries. Muhamed Tijani has barely featured this season while Ibrahim Cissoko and Morgan Whittaker are both out until January with hip and foot injuries, respectively.

The Pilgrims' offence has suffered more blows in the past two games - Ryan Hardie gashed his knee while Burnley loanee Michael Obafemi injured his groin against Middlesbrough just before Christmas, while Boxing Day saw Mustapha Bundu hurt his hamstring.

It leaves Andre Gray as the only fit senior forward - and he is at the club on a short-term deal which ends in January. While the 33-year-old has scored a couple of key goals, he has not been the answer to Argyle's attacking problems.

Whether Rooney perseveres with him or opts to let him go and spend his wages elsewhere is possibly one of his biggest decisions.

The club may also look to strengthen at full-back, particularly left-back. Brendan Galloway and Lewis Gibson - more noted as central defenders - have played on the left in recent weeks as Nathaniel Ogbeta and Matthew Sorinola have struggled to make an impact.

How successful have they been in recent January windows?

January has never been a big month for Argyle - Adam Forshaw joined last January and has featured regularly since.

But you have to go back three or four years for the last January where any real impact signings were made.

Argyle brought Ryan Hardie for the first time in January 2020 and signed him permanently a year later along with Niall Ennis - both forwards went on to have key impacts in Argyle's promotion to the Championship.

Are there likely to be any notable departures?

A year ago all the talk was whether highly-rated Whittaker would leave, with reported bids from Rangers and Lazio. Now the forward is injured and has found the net just three times in 16 games - whether anyone will pay the rumoured £10m price tag touted earlier this year looks unlikely.

Rooney has said players will leave this month, but he must have suitable replacements lined up.

He must make a decision over Gray and a number of other players failing to make the squad - could Hardie, who has scored just once in 18 league appearances this season, be surplus to requirements?

Meanwhile, with goalkeeper Conor Hazard returning to full fitness you would expect Marko Marosi to leave when his short-term deal ends.

How key is the window?

Make or break might be a bit strong as Argyle have had their injury problems. But undoubtedly they must get more attacking firepower through the doors at Home Park if they are to give themselves the best chance of staying up for a second successive season.

If only Rooney was 10 years younger...