Conor Hazard expected to be fit for start of Plymouth Argyle season
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Hazard made his first international appearance for his country in 18 months when he started the game against Denmark in Copenhagen but he fell heavily after he challenged for the ball with Rasmus Hojlund, the Manchester United striker, during the first half and although he did remain on the pitch after lengthy medical attention he was substituted at the interval.
New head coach Tom Cleverley revealed the hope was that Hazard would be ready to play for Argyle in the final pre-season game, against Bristol City at Home Park on Saturday, July 26.
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"We had a couple of reports back on that (Hazard's injury) and it looks like the better of the two bits of news we received," said Cleverley. "We are hoping Conor will be fit for the start of the season, maybe even the last pre-season game.
"It's obviously not ideal but it's in a position where fitness isn't too high up the priorities and I expect Conor to be good to go the start of the season."
He added: "It's a knee ligament issue and a bit better than we first feared. I'm looking forward to having him back, the back end of the pre-season."
The injury to Hazard is a particularly untimely one for Argyle because Dan Grimshaw, who served as the back-up 'keeper to him over the second half of last season, joined Norwich City earlier this summer.
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As it stands, 20-year-old academy product Zak Baker is the only 'keeper in the senior squad, and he has not made his first team debut yet, so clearly that is something which needs to be addressed. Cleverley said: "It's another area of the pitch that we will be looking to add depth. We are working hard towards that as well."
Hazard has 12 months remaining on the contract he signed with Argyle when he joined them from Celtic in Scotland in the summer of 2023. He has gone on to make 59 first team appearances, and missed much of the first half of last term due to ankle ligament damage.
You can read more of our Argyle stories from Plymouth Live by clicking HERE
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