Gozie Ogwu keen to improve Plymouth Argyle survival hopes after extending loan at Home Park

GOZIE UGWU has vowed to do his best to improve Plymouth Argyle's survival hopes over the next vital month.

The on-loan Reading striker (below) will be available to play in eight League Two matches for the Pilgrims after the two clubs agreed Ugwu should remain at Home Park until deep into next month.

Ugwu's stint kicks-off at Northampton Town this Saturday and ends at Chesterfield on March 23.

Between those fixtures come Wimbledon, Barnet, Gillingham, Bradford, Fleetwood Town and Southend United.

The teenager's original one-month youth loan deal with Argyle had been curtailed by injury and ran out against Oxford United last Saturday.

The 1-0 home defeat against his home-town club was Ugwu's first full match in Argyle colours, after a second-half substitute appearance for the Greens in the 2-1 victory at Aldershot.

He is now champing at the bit to make up for lost time to continue his football education after loan spells at Yeovil and Ebbsfleet.

The 6ft 2in forward wants to try and help Plymouth prosper over what promises to be a season-defining set of matches.

Argyle have been weakened in the striker department, so having Ugwu aboard for a second month increases manager John Sheridan's options.

Nick Chadwick's six-match suspension also ends this weekend, but Warren Feeney's return from injury is less easy to predict.

Oxford-born Ugwu said he didn't need asking twice to re-join Argyle and insisted Argyle 'are a much better team than their league position suggests'.

Ugwu said he has faith in the players' spirit and ability to lift the club up the table.

And he is ready and willing to get his hands dirty in order to help Sheridan achieve that goal.

"I'm really pleased to have my loan extended and, hopefully, help Argyle start moving up the table," said Ugwu.

"I've not really had the chance to contribute yet, owing to an injury in training shortly after joining on loan (in January).

"I came down here to play football and score goals. That's what I still want to do. Plymouth are well-known as a big club with loyal fans and I believe, like most people, they shouldn't be where they are.

"I like the people at the club who have made me feel welcome and like the other players I want to help turn around their fortunes by getting as many points as we can over the coming weeks."

Ugwu, who scored three times in 17 appearances with League One Yeovil earlier this term, said he, like his team-mates, was at a loss to explain their poor performance, particularly in the first half at home to Oxford.

"I don't know why we started so slowly. We improved after the break and created a few chances," said Ugwu.

"After going four matches unbeaten, it was a poor performance and result, but the spirit in the dressing room is fine.

"There are still plenty of points to fight for. I'm eager to help us get as many as we can."

Meanwhile, Argyle set up a potential semi-final showdown with derby rivals Exeter City after crushing Witheridge 7-2 in the St Luke's Devon Cup.

Winger Andres Gurrieri was Argyle's shooting star with a hat-trick, while Isaac Vassell netted twice and Luke Young and Jamie Richards were also on target.

The Pilgrims now meet either Exeter or Tiverton in the last four after their comprehensive away victory over the South West Peninsula League Premier side at Edge Down Park.

ARGYLE'S teenage striker Tyler Harvey has been shortlisted for the League Two Apprentice of the Year award.

The Pilgrims are also in with a chance of Football League glory as they are also shortlisted in both the Family Club of the Year and Best Use of Digital categories.