Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit backs Plymouth Argyle manager Tom Cleverley to "prove a massive point" to Watford FC | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie has given his verdict on what Tom Cleverley can achieve at Plymouth Argyle in League One next season.

Pundit Lee Hendrie believes Plymouth Argyle will be among the promotion contenders in League One next season under the guidance of new head coach Tom Cleverley.

Despite a strong second half of the campaign, Plymouth suffered relegation from the Championship last season, and they were dealt a big blow when manager Miron Muslic left the club to take over at German side Schalke in May.

The likes of Ian Evatt, Jack Wilshere, Des Buckingham and Stephen Robinson were linked with the Pilgrims after Muslic's departure, but they instead appointed Cleverley as their new head coach last month, with the 35-year-old putting pen to paper on a three-year contract at Home Park.

Cleverley's only previous managerial experience came with Watford, and after his side emerged as surprise play-off contenders in the early stages of last season, no team in the Championship picked up fewer points than the Hornets in the second half of the campaign, resulting in the sacking of the ex-Manchester United midfielder in May.

While Argyle have lost some of their key players following relegation, including Maxi Talovierov, Adam Randell, Ryan Hardie and Mustapha Bundu, Cleverley has been given strong backing in the transfer market by owner Simon Hallett, with Brendan Wiredu, Jack MacKenzie, Caleb Watts, Bradley Ibrahim, Aymen Benarous, Xavier Amaechi, Jamie Paterson, Owen Oseni and Aribim Pepple all arriving in Devon so far this summer.

Lee Hendrie issues bold Tom Cleverley, Plymouth Argyle claim

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Hendrie admitted that Plymouth will face strong competition for promotion in League One next season from the likes of Luton Town and Cardiff City, but he insisted that he is confident the Pilgrims can challenge for an immediate return to the Championship under Cleverley.

And that would prove a point to Watford if that was the case, having harshly sacked the ex-Man United midfielder at the end of last season.

"I don't think Tom Cleverley would have taken the drop down if he didn't think there was massive potential at Plymouth," Hendrie said.

"You only have to look at the crowds they get there and the style of play they've been able to adapt to under managers beforehand.

"I think Tom can prove a massive point there, I really do.

"I think he knows the potential of promotion this season, that is going to be key.

"There's no doubt that Luton will be the favourites, but Cardiff and Plymouth will be in that running as well.

"I do hope it works out for Tom because he showed potential with an inconsistent team at Watford last season, and I liked what he did.

"I do feel he's got massive potential."

Tom Cleverley could be a strong appointment for Plymouth Argyle despite Simon Hallett admission

Watford's decline in form under Cleverley in the second half of last season will be a slight cause for concern for Plymouth supporters, and even Halllett himself admitted that "there is a risk" attached to his appointment due to his "very limited experience from a single club".

However, as Hendrie said, Cleverley certainly showed a lot of potential during his time at Vicarage Road, and he did incredibly well to keep his side in play-off contention for as long as he did last season, particularly as the Hornets were tipped for relegation by many at the start of the campaign.

Despite losing a number of their stars this summer, Argyle will still have one of the strongest squads in League One next season, which should enable them to challenge for promotion, but Cleverley may be keen to bring in another striker before the end of the transfer window to replace Hardie, with Oseni and Pepple both unproven at third tier level.