Plymouth Argyle would love repeat of Blackburn Rovers deal this January | OneFootball

Paul Gallagher made all the difference when the Greens were last facing a battle against the drop in the second tier

With the club facing a relegation battle between now and the end of the season, Plymouth Argyle are a side who need to address their issues at the business end of the field.

The Pilgrims have struggled for goals throughout the campaign to date, with the absence of a recognised number nine seeing them struggle to put the ball in the back of the net, particularly after the departure of Andre Gray at the start of the month.

Ryan Hardie, Michael Obafemi and Muhamed Tijani are all struggling for fitness as it stands, leaving Miron Muslic bereft of options in the final third in his new role at Home Park, with Argyle’s attention surely turning towards bringing in an extra body up top in the next few weeks of the transfer window.

Janners of a certain vintage will be able to cast their minds back to a loan deal that made all the difference in their previous quest to stay in the second tier 16 years ago, with Paul Gallagher’s goals making all the difference in a season where the Greens narrowly avoided the drop.

Paul Gallagher’s goals help Plymouth Argyle avoid Championship relegation

Joining on loan from Blackburn Rovers in the 08/09 season, Gallagher joined a side who were on the haunches following a number of key departures over the past 12 months, with the financial issues that were to have a detrimental effect on the club about to take hold.

With the likes of David Norris, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Dan Gosling and Akos Buzsaky all leaving the club in the January before, the Pilgrims knew they were to be up against it in the season to follow, just months after claiming a second successive top half finish in the second tier.

But in Gallagher, they were handed a player who was eager to make his mark after making the move to Home Park, and nine months after his arrival, he had done enough to secure hero status in a season where backs were firmly against the wall in the bid for survival.

With Argyle legend Paul Sturrock back in the dugout, the Home Park side dug deep for every point earned in that campaign, with their Scottish striker making his first big impact in a 2-1 win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Both goals he scored that day were out of the top drawer, and would have left many a Janner mesmerised by the player borrowed from Lancashire, who had a essence of arrogance in his play, and an elegant swagger that oozed class from every pore.

Whether he was picking a pass or picking out the top corner, Gallagher brought a creative spark to the side alongside the likes of Rory Fallon and Steve MacLean up top, as the battle at the bottom of the division intensified week on week.

A run of five goals in four matches proved to be vital as February turned into March, with an effort against Sheffield United helping to earn a 2-2 draw against the Blades at Home Park, before an acrobatic effort against high-flying Wolves in the first few seconds of the encounter at Molineux was enough to earn all three points in a classic smash and grab display.

Three days later, and the Rovers loanee was at it again, this time a brace against Watford to send the Hornets back to Hertfordshire without a point to their name, before the final foray came in another 2-2 draw at Home Park; this time against the Royals of Reading.

With the likes of Norwich City and Southampton failing to pick up any momentum in the battle against the drop, those goals would prove to be massive come the end of the season, with five points the difference between Argyle in 21st and the relegation places, as the Greens dined at the top table of the EFL for another season.

Gallagher finished the season with 13 league goals, eight more than any other man in green mustered that season, and was sent back to Blackburn as the man who saved the Pilgrims’ skin.

Plymouth Argyle would love Paul Gallagher repeat in 24/25

While the Scot was a season-long signing back in 2008, the Greens would love to bring in someone who could have something of a similar impact for the second-half of the 24/25 campaign, whether it be on loan or a permanent deal.

There have been links between the side from the southwest and Liverpool striker Jayden Danns over the past two transfer windows, with the 18-year-old touted to have a bright future at Anfield, although Reds boss Arne Slot is unsure whether a loan deal will be agreed for the hotshot during this transfer window.

Whoever it may be, it is undoubtedly a deal that needs to be done over the next few weeks, and there is no doubt that Muslic will have his own targets in mind after his arrival in Devon earlier this month.

While new arrival Michael Baidoo has filled the void in the middle of the frontline since his arrival from Elfsborg at the start of this month, the Ghanaian has been brought in to provide the magic in an advanced midfield position, rather than battling with centre-backs himself, meaning the impact of bringing in a frontman will be twofold; with added presence up top added to by the playmaker being able to play in his natural position.

Gallagher is a key example that a player can come into the club on loan and make all the difference, just as Finn Azaz, Morgan Whittaker and Bali Mumba have done in recent seasons, and if Argyle get it right once again this month, their fears of relegation could be eased come the end of the season.