How the Plymouth Argyle goalkeeping situation is taking shape at start of season

Two Championship games into the season and Northern Ireland international Conor Hazard has emerged as Plymouth Argyle’s first choice goalkeeper

Mike Cooper could be ready to make his comeback from a serious knee injury around the middle of next month, but some good performances from Hazard between now and then would remove any need to rush back Argyle’s player-of-the-year for the past two seasons.

Hazard has started the Championship matches against Huddersfield Town and Watford while Callum Burton played in the 2-0 Carabao Cup first round victory over Leyton Orient in between them.

Burton played an important part in Argyle’s League One title-winning triumph last season after stepping into the side for the injured Cooper in early February.

However, the arrival of 6ft 6in Hazard from Scottish champions Celtic for a reported transfer fee of £150,000 has seen the 26-year-old Burton on the bench for the opening two Championship matches.

Hazard had an up and down time of it in the 3-1 win against Neil Warnock’s Huddersfield, although there was not much he could do about the Terriers’ goal scored by Michael Helik after the ball had rebounded out to the defender off a post.

He seemed hesitant with the ball at his feet as Argyle looked to play out from the back and when he lost possession to Josh Koroma with the score at 1-1 in the second half Hazard had to make a good reaction save to make amends for his mistake.

The strong winds that afternoon would not have made it easy for Hazard in general, though, so some allowance had to be made for that.

Hazard was much more assured in the goal-less draw against Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday, being decisive at dealing with crosses into his penalty area, better with the ball at his feet and making a good save from Ryan Andrews in the second half.

That has set him up now to get a regular run of games, although you would imagine Burton will play in the Carabao Cup second round tie against Crystal Palace at Home Park on a date still to be confirmed.

Clearly, Cooper is a very highly-rated ‘keeper but Argyle manager Steven Schumacher will want Hazard to make it as hard as possible for the 23-year-old to get back in the team once he is fit again.

Hazard can do that through consistent displays for the Pilgrims as they aim to build on their encouraging start to life in the Championship after picking up four points from the opening two games.

Argyle also have 18-year-old Zak Baker among their professional ranks and Cooper has a high regard for him and his potential. A loan move to gain some men’s first team football would appear to be a logical next step for him.