Luckless Paterson Is Facing Lengthy Lay-Off

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ARGYLE left-back Jim Paterson faces at least three weeks on the sidelines because of a hamstring injury. Lee Molyneux will take over from him for the Pilgrims' away game against Cheltenham Town in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy southern section second round tonight. Paterson pulled up in the closing stages of Argyle's 1-0 League One defeat by Hartlepool United at Home Park on Saturday. However, as they had already used their three permitted substitutes, Paterson remained on the pitch until full-time. The 31-year-old was pushed into the centre of midfield, with manager Peter Reid opting to end the match with only three defenders. The severity of Paterson's hamstring injury will become clear once he has had it scanned. But Reid said: "You are looking at least three weeks or a month, I should imagine." Paterson suffered a hamstring injury last season, in a 1-0 defeat at Leicester City, which kept him out of action for three weeks. Then his loan spell to Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen later in the same campaign was ended prematurely by an Achilles problem. So it was no wonder Paterson was so disconsolate when leaving Home Park on Saturday after another injury blow. The versatile left-side player made his fifth successive start for Argyle against Hartlepool, after being out of favour before that. Reid sympathised with Paterson over his latest setback.

"He fought his way into the side and has been outstanding," said the Pilgrims' boss. "A hamstring injury in the last 10 minutes is a very rare occurrence. "We have just got to try to get him fit as soon as we can, and we have got people who can go in that position." Molyneux will get the chance to play at left-back for Argyle tonight, and against Charlton Athletic in League One at Home Park on Saturday. That is because Paterson is injured and Onismor Bhasera, another candidate to take on that role, is away on international duty. Bhasera is in the Zimbabwe squad for their home 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Cape Verde in Harare on Friday. Molyneux started the first six matches of this season at left-back for Argyle, after signing a five-month contract with the club two days before the League One campaign began. But he was sent-off for a second bookable offence in the 1-1 draw at Colchester United on September and had to serve a one-match suspension. That opened the door for Paterson to return to the side and Molyneux has been restricted to one substitute appearance since then. Reid said: "He started the season really well, but I think he gives away too many fouls pushing and pulling people. "We do that as a team, although Saturday was a lot better. "If you can't get to balls, you have got to be disciplined and stay on your feet, and I think Lee needs to learn that." Reid admitted Molyneux only had himself to blame for his dismissal against Colchester. First, Molyneux kicked the ball away after conceding a foul and then, in the closing minutes, he tugged the shirt of an opposing player who was about to race clear of him. Reid said: "It was silly.

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Luckless Paterson Is Facing Lengthy Lay-Off

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