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Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE international defender, Brendan Galloway, will be given a contract extension at English League One side, Plymouth Argyle, when his current deal expires in January next year.

Even if he misses the remainder of the season, the club are prepared to give him a deal which will see him remain at Home Park, by the time the new season starts, in August next year.

The 25-year-old is set to miss his maiden AFCON finals show, in Cameroon, after suffering a dislocated kneecap, during the first half of his team’s 0-3 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers, on Tuesday night.

The teams were level, by the time Galloway was stretchered off, but the Pilgrims collapsed, in the second half, as the visitors scored three times, to win the match.

Galloway is set to have an MRI scan today and this will give a clear picture whether he will be able to play at the AFCON finals, in Cameroon, next January.

However, even if he misses his first major tournament, for his country, Galloway will still have a home, at Home Park, beyond his current deal.

He has made 13 starts, and two substitute appearances, for the Pilgrims this season while also scoring two goals.

“We have got to now wait for a MRI scan, which is tomorrow, and then we will get the results straight away,’’ manager Ryan Lowe, who said he expects Galloway to be out for a long period, told the Plymouth Herald.

“It’s a horrible thing, it’s not a good injury. By the look of things, it’s his kneecap, but we can’t really diagnose it until we know (the results of the scan).

“It is going to be a long spell out and people will ask about the contract. We were in contract negotiations with Brendan and they were going very smoothly.

“What we have got to do now, as a football club, is that we will morally look after Brendan and he will have a future at Argyle. We will give him the best opportunity to get back fit and firing because I think he deserves it.

“What we will do is we will look after him first and foremost, whatever he has to do. Whether it’s surgery and recovery, we will get him back to where we feel he belongs, playing football.

“He was a little bit low yesterday and we are trying to pick up his spirits. I have said to him ‘Look, don’t worry, your future is fine’ which I’m sure gave him a smile and he’s relieved about that.”

Lowe feels they have an obligation, to take care of Galloway, because of the service he has provided for the Pilgrims.

“We want to make sure that what we do for our players is in the best interests of them and the football club,’’ the manager said.

“We have been in discussions with Brendan for a few weeks, and as contract negotiations go that’s how it works.

“I spoke to Andrew Parkinson (Argyle’s chief executive officer) and Zac Newton (club secretary) about what we were going to do and how we were going to do it and it’s a no-brainer we make sure we look after him.

“We will do right by him and right by the club in terms of what we are about and we will hopefully get him fit and firing. Whether it’s this season or next season, it remains to be seen on the scans.”

Galloway’s Warriors teammate, Jordan Zemura, needs at least two to three more weeks to recover fully from an ankle injury he suffered, during an English Championship match, late last month.

Jordan Zemura

Zemura was injured while in action for Bournemouth in a game against Reading. 

He had played every minute in the Championship, for the Cherries, before the injury.

Warriors manager, Wellington Mpandare, said they have been monitoring the defender, who has risen to become a key member of the senior national team, ahead of next year’s AFCON finals, in Cameroon.

“I have spoken to Jordan and he told me that he needs two to three more weeks,’’ said Mpandare. 

“It has been a difficult time for him but the good thing is that he is recovering well.’’

Bournemouth manager, Scott Parker, revealed Zemura was still “immobilised” in a protective boot, at present.

The fullback was a specialist during the international break. 

“JZ has still got a bit of an issue here,’’ Parker told the Bournemouth Echo.

“He is immobilised in a boot at the moment, hopefully he comes out of that in the next couple of days.

“Then we will probably have a bit of a clearer picture on how we can progress him moving forward.”

Mpandare, also gave an update on United States-based defender, Teenage Hadebe, who also missed the later part of the Major League Soccer season, and Zimbabwe’s last World Cup qualifying matches, due to an ankle knock.

Teenage Hadebe

“We are monitoring all our players because AFCON is just around the corner. As we have said, Zemura is one of the players for the future and we will keep in touch with him and his club.

“Hadebe is also still in rehabilitation, he is back home in Bulawayo on holiday. 

“So, we have requested him to train with Highlanders so that he keeps fit since he is off-season. Remember their league starts after the AFCON tournament,” said Mpandare.

But, it’s not all doom and gloom.

France-based midfielder, Marshall Munetsi, has also made progress and is about to return to action.

Warriors skipper, Knowledge Musona, completed his return at the weekend when he featured for his club, Al Tai, in the Saudi Arabian Pro-League, after missing a month’s action, due to injury.

Mpandare said they have since made the provisional shortlist for the AFCON finals and were hoping that injuries will not disrupt their plans.

“We have submitted our shortlist of 40 players before the November 15 deadline. But, we have made a special request to CAF to at least allow us to have that chance to look at local players for possible additions. 

“As you know, our league has just started after a one-year absence,” said Mpandare.