- Wayne Rooney has moved for attacking reinforcements for struggling Plymouth
- Move comes after Muhamed Tijani was ruled out until new year through injury
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A former Premier League striker has completed a move to Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth on a short-term deal.
The Home Park side have endured a difficult start to the season following Rooney’s arrival as head coach this summer and currently sit just one point outside the relegation places.
Rooney’s side gave a strong account of themselves against promotion-chasing Burnley on Tuesday but were ultimately unable to capitalise on their chances and succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at Turf Moor.
The result leaves Plymouth with the second-lowest goal tally in the Championship and with Muhamed Tijani out until the new year through injury Rooney moved quickly to bring in offensive reinforcements.
On Friday the club announced that former Brentford, Burnley and Watford forward Andre Gray has joined the club on a short-term deal until January.
Wayne Rooney has signed a former Premier League star in a bid to solve Plymouth’s lack of goals
Andre Gray has joined the club on a short-term deal after spending last season in Saudi Arabia
The 33-year-old Jamaica international has scored nearly 200 career goals in all competitions
Speaking following Gray’s arrival Rooney said: ‘Once we knew the severity of Muhamed’s injury, we moved quickly to bring in a striker to replace him.
‘Andre is a striker of real quality and has played and scored goals at the highest level. He will provide competition in forward areas as we head into a busy period of the season, and I am really happy to have him here.’
After first receiving recognition for his goalscoring exploits at then-non league Luton, Gray would go on to net 16 goals in his first Championship campaign after joining Brentford in 2014.
A move to Burnley reportedly worth £6m followed, with Gray named Championship top scorer in his maiden season as Sean Dyche’s side won promotion to the top flight.
After netting nine Premier League goals for the Clarets, Gray joined Watford for a club record fee and was a regular feature for the side over four seasons before spending a year in Greece with Aris.
Gray’s arrival comes after Plymouth forward Muhamed Tijani was ruled out until January through injury
Gray’s most recent club was Saudi Pro League side Al-Riyadh, where he scored seven goals in 27 appearances before being released when his contract expired this summer.
After making multiple appearances for England’s C team, Gray switched allegiances to Jamaica in 2021 and has earned 13 caps for the Reggae Boyz.
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