Morgan Whittaker “failed to turn up” despite being selected for Plymouth against Burnley, claims Pilgrims boss Miron Muslic.
Whittaker’s absence from the starting XI in the 5-0 defeat at Home Park sparked further speculation about his future with the Pilgrims.
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The Pitch Prospect understands offers have been rejected at Burnley and Hull City for the winger, who is worth more than £10million.
No club has yet agreed on a transfer fee for the 24-year-old.
Whittaker has scored 33 goals in 103 appearances for Plymouth since joining from Swansea City for £1million plus add-ons in 2023.
However, head coach Muslic has revealed that the winger had planned to play against Burnley but Whittaker decided not to play.
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“We need players who really want to play for Argyle so we can always come to them when we need players who are ready to give everything,” he said after the defeat.
“I know he is a target and has been linked with transfers,” he added, before saying: “He was available today, he was in the selection and he wasn’t there.”
“So, I said that again: we have to change that mentality, we have to change the dressing room, we have to bring in characters with the desire to take on this challenge and give it our all, that is our one and only way.” Chance.”
Muslic then explained: “He was in the selection and that’s all I have to say.”
“Morgan is an Argyle player who is under contract here as long as no one has paid the money that we as an organization demand to pay his value.”
“He is an Argyle player and he has responsibilities and obligations to Argyle and like I said, that is one of the reasons why Argyle have been struggling in the last few months.”
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“Morgan didn’t show up, he was in the selection,” Muslic insisted, before finally saying: “We had a game today, he was in the selection, he wasn’t there, and that’s all I have to say about Morgan have.” .”
A Whittaker-less Plymouth suffered a heavy defeat in its final championship game.
Promotion hunters Burnley scored their first goal of the evening through Zian Flemming in the 11th minute.
He scored his second just after half an hour before Josh Laurent added two goals of his own just before half-time.
Josh Cullen scored the final goal of the game with a strike in first-half stoppage time.
Plymouth suffered its 15th league defeat of the season and remains bottom of the table with 21 points, six points behind.
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Portsmouth increased the pressure on the Pilgrims with a 3-1 win over Stoke City, moving them up to 18th with a game to play.
Plymouth’s last league win came on November 5th when they beat Pompey 2-1.
Since then they have been on a 14-game winning streak in the league, with the FA Cup win over Brentford being their only recent triumph.
Muslic’s side return to action on Saturday with a tough game against Sunderland, who sit comfortably in fourth place in the table.