Noone time may be imminent

CRAIG Noone could be a beneficiary of the one-match suspension which will exclude Jamie Mackie from Plymouth Argyle's starting XI for today's Coca- Cola Championship home game against Barnsley.

Mackie, the Pilgrims' top scorer, misses the visit of Mark Robins' Tykes because he has collected five yellow cards this season. He will be back in Paul Sturrock's squad for Plymouth's home game against another South Yorkshire side, Sheffield United, a week today, but Argyle's manager will have to adjust his attacking personnel this afternoon.

Sturrock has several alternatives. The Scotsman deployed a three-man attack in Argyle's last home game, with Mackie as the spearhead, Rory Fallon on the left side, and Alan Gow in space behind Mackie and in front of the midfield.

It was Fallon who scored the winner that day, but he did not score the goal which beat Doncaster Rovers three weeks ago until he was moved into the middle of the forward line. The New Zealander will probably start today's game as an out-and-out centre-forward, and the chances are that Gow will also be asked to play up front as a striker, rather than as a deep-lying link man.

If, however, Sturrock chooses to use Gow in a withdrawn role behind two strikers, Cillian Sheridan could be given his first starting appearance in an Argyle shirt since September. The option of picking Fallon and Gow as a front two and Noone on the left wing to provide the ammunition for that pair might be the most attractive one, though.

Whoever is selected, making up for the loss of Mackie's pace and work-rate will not be an easy task. As he looked ahead to today's game, Sturrock said: "Jamie has been an influence on the last six or seven games. He runs the line very well, he causes a lot of problems, but it does give an opportunity for somebody to come in.

"I have to weigh up who that will be," the Scotsman added. "There are a few runners and riders for that slot, and I have to decide whether it's in the width where I do something or whether it's through the middle. I could put Gow right up through the middle, and bring in a width player."

If Sturrock does decide to bring in a wide man, Noone could be the leading candidate. The left-winger has had some match practice this season during a loan spell at Exeter City, and he delivered a lively cameo display as a substitute in the Pilgrims' 2-1 win over Doncaster.

"Noone is definitely in my thoughts," Sturrock confirmed. "We have to be offensive at home. I could either have a system change which enables me to have Gow in a more withdrawn role, or I could do something on the width that would be very positive."

While Argyle were losing 1-0 to a goal in the final seconds of stoppage-time at Leicester City last Saturday, Barnsley were leaving it late to see off Cardiff City at Oakwell. On-loan Stoke City full- back Carl Dickinson scored in the closing moments of the match to give the Tykes a 1-0 win which left them in 15th place in the Championship.

Barnsley, who made sure they were safe from relegation to League One by winning at Home Park on the final day of last season, are currently six points better off than Argyle, who are in the bottom three. Simon Davey, who led the Tykes' escape mission last term, was replaced as manager by Robins in the early stages of the current campaign.

The former Rotherham United boss is in charge of a decent side, according to Sturrock. "They've come off a fantastic result last weekend, and they'll be in high spirits," Sturrock said. "They have some exceptional players, and Mark Robins has organised them very well. He has done a good job."

Jim Paterson, who started on the left side of Argyle's midfield at Leicester, is ruled out today by a hamstring injury. Karl Duguid, who played at right-back against the Foxes, has recovered from the calf strain he sustained last weekend, but he has missed some training this week and he may have to settle for a place among the substitutes.

Darcy Blake, who has served a three- game ban, is the favourite to be Argyle's right-back today. Duguid will also be competing for a place on the right of midfield, but Sturrock might prefer Alan Judge in that role if he does opt for his most attacking line-up.

There were no departures from Home Park before this week's closure of the Football League's autumn 'window' for loan transfers, despite interest from Southampton and Stockport County in Argyle striker George Donnelly.