Carver lands Pilgrims post

Mariner appoints new assistant

Last updated: 17th December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Carver lands Pilgrims post

Carver: Pilgrims post

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Plymouth boss Paul Mariner has brought in John Carver to work as his assistant at Home Park.

The former Newcastle and Leeds coach, 44, will start work on Thursday ahead of Saturday's Championship home clash against Coventry.

Carver has recently been head coach of Major League Soccer side Toronto.

Meanwhile, Pilgrims defender Chris Barker has made his long-awaited return to action in the reserves after five months out with injury.

The former Barnsley and Cardiff left-back has been sidelined with a calf problem sustained in pre-season but made his first appearance in the second-string in the 2-1 defeat by Salisbury.

"We were going to take him off at half-time, but he felt OK, so I listened to the physio who said 'If he feels good, let him go'," Mariner told the club's official website.

However, the positive news about Barker has been off-set by the recurrence of Jim Paterson's hamstring injury.

"When you've had a hamstring injury you're obviously conscious of it and Jim's an experienced professional," Mariner added.

"As soon as you feel something coming, you can sometimes catch it. He looked to stop pretty quick, which is unfortunate."