Morgan Whittaker ‘didn’t present up’ regardless of being chosen for Plymouth towards Burnley, Pilgrims boss Miron Muslic claims.
Whittaker’s absence kind the beginning XI of the 5-0 defeat at Dwelling Park raised additional hypothesis over his future at the Pilgrims.
talkSPORT understands that Burnley and Hull Metropolis have seen bids rejected for the winger, who’s valued in extra of £10million.
No payment is but to have been agreed by any membership for the 24-year-old.
Whittaker has scored 33 objectives in 103 appearances for Plymouth since his reported £1million plus add-ons transfer from Swansea Metropolis in 2023.
Nonetheless, head coach Muslic has revealed that the winger was in his plans to play towards Burnley however Whittaker determined to not play.
“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 mentioned after the defeat.
“I know he’s a target and linked with transfers,” he added, earlier than saying: “He was accessible right now, he was within the choice and he wasn’t there.
“So, it’s what I said again, we need to change this mentality, we need to change the locker room, we need to get characters inside with the desire to face this challenge and to give it all, that’s our only way and our only chance.”
Muslic then elaborated: “He was within the choice, and that’s all the pieces I’ve to say.
“Morgan is an Argyle participant underneath contract right here so long as no one has paid the cash we as an organisation demand, to pay his worth.
“He’s an Argyle player and he has responsibilities and obligations to Argyle and like I said, that’s one of the reasons why Argyle is struggling for the last months.”
“Morgan didn’t show up, he was in the selection,” Muslic insisted, earlier than lastly saying: “We had a game today, he was in the selection, he wasn’t there, and that’s everything I have to say on Morgan.”
A Whittaker-less Plymouth suffered a heavy defeat of their newest Championship outing.
Promotion-chasing Burnley scored their first objective of the night on 11 minutes by way of Zian Flemming.
He netted his second shortly after the half-hour mark earlier than Josh Laurent netted two objectives for himself on the method to half-time.
Josh Cullen scored the ultimate objective of the match with a strike in first-half stoppage-time.
Plymouth have suffered a fifteenth Championship defeat of the season and stay backside of the desk on 21 factors and 6 behind security.
Portsmouth have added extra stress on the Pilgrims with a 3-1 win over Stoke Metropolis to take them as much as 18th with a recreation in hand.
Plymouth’s final Championship win got here on November 5 once they beat Pompey 2-1.
They’ve confronted a 14-game winless run within the league since then, with their FA Cup win over Brentford their solely latest triumph.
Muslic’s aspect return to motion on Saturday with a tricky journey to Sunderland, who comfortably sit fourth within the desk.