Plymouth Argyle have hit the jackpot with Middlesbrough loan agreement | OneFootball

The Pilgrims have added a superb young midfielder to their ranks.

Plymouth Argyle bolstered their midfield ranks with the deadline day loan signing of Middlesbrough talent Law McCabe - that's a major coup for the Pilgrims.

It's not been the start to life back in League One that anyone connected with Plymouth Argyle would've been hoping for, or perhaps foreseen.

Given their relegation from the Championship last season, expectations are naturally high at Home Park this term for Tom Cleverley's side to make a swift return to second tier football.

However, with just one win from their opening six league games, Argyle find themselves in the relegation zone as August turns to September, with supporters in desperate need of an injection of quality on the pitch.

Plymouth Argyle supporters will soon realise gem they have in Law McCabe

Understandably so given his age and lack of senior experience, there are a fair share of Plymouth supporters who are skeptical over the deal to bring McCabe to Devon.

As a result of their aforementioned early-season struggles, Argyle fans want players who they know they can trust to step up and are ready to put in performance levels that will see them escape their predicament, and evolve into a team that can win promotion this season.

Therefore, given that McCabe is only 19 and has made just seven first-team appearances for Middlesbrough so far, questions are being asked regarding his compatibility in relation to those requirements.

However, any doubts will be swept away once they see their new man in action.

That he's only made seven first-team appearances so far is not a reflection on his ability or readiness, quite the opposite in fact, as Michael Carrick and now Rob Edwards have been blessed with superb midfield options such as Hayden Hackney, Aidan Morris and Jonny Howson, who any young player would find incredibly tough to depose.

Indeed, both Carrick and Edwards have spoken very highly about the England youth international's ability and progress, with the latter waxing lyrical following his performance in a pre-season friendly vs Rangers at Ibrox in July.

“I thought Law was excellent," Edwards said. "For such a big game - big game, such a big stadium etc. He’d have felt a bit of pressure today. But I thought he was excellent for such a young lad. There are a lot of high hopes around the club for him at the moment. From the supporters too. Everyone thinks so highly of him."

Comparisons to fellow Middlesbrough academy graduate Hackney are not lazy ones either, as the two box-to-box midfielders indeed share many of the same attributes, which has many on Teesside confident that he is the heir apparent to Boro's in-demand 23-year-old.

Like Hackney, McCabe loves to drop deep and sometimes even into defence to get on the ball, whilst also possessing a passing range that allows him to find teammates in any position on the pitch.

Despite only being around 5'8", he's a tough, combative central midfielder who doesn't shy away from the physical side of controlling the middle of the park, and harnesses that when on the ball to confidently and powerfully carry the ball down the pitch, whilst also having the dribbling and close control ability to move past players with relative ease.

McCabe made his first Middlesbrough start aged just 17 in a 3-1 win over Watford on the final day of the 2023/24 season - he was also a regular feature in the matchday squad that year too - and didn't look out of place at Championship level then.

Since that day, cup competitions are where his Boro opportunities have arisen from, and on every occasion, he's come away leaving Teessiders in unified agreement that he is good enough and can be trusted to perform in their first-team side.

McCabe can form excellent midfield partnership with Malachi Boateng

One of the few bright spots in Plymouth's season so far, and one of the few who can hold their heads high regarding their performances through the early exchanges, is Malachi Boateng.

The 23-year-old wasn't able to play much of a part in Argyle's ill-fated survival attempt last season, making just seven Championship appearances after signing from Hearts in February.

However, he's started every single one of Plymouth's opening six games in League One this term, and opened his Argyle scoring account with an excellent solo strike that would turn out to be the winning goal vs Blackpool on 23 August.

Alongside him in the centre of midfield, however, has largely been Bradley Ibrahim, who whilst only being 20 himself, hasn't really hit the ground running with his performances since moving to Home Park this summer from Hertha Berlin.

Therefore, Cleverley may need to find a midfield partner for Boateng that will compliment his strong showings, and the Pilgrims boss rightly sounds confident that McCabe can be that player.

“Law is an exceptional young talent who is highly thought of by everyone at Middlesbrough," Cleverley said of his new signing via the club website.

“He is technically very good, excellent on the ball, and will complement the style of play we are looking to implement perfectly.

“He is currently away with England Under-20s which shows the talent he has at his disposal, and I look forward to working with him when he joins up with the squad after international duty.”

Law McCabe is an excellent signing for Plymouth Argyle, and has a real chance of establishing himself as a real top player at League One level this season.