The experienced former Cardiff City captain will have surgery to repair a hamstring injury
13:51, 12 Feb 2026Updated 14:49, 12 Feb 2026
Argyle midfielder Joe Ralls limps off with a hamstring injury during the League One game against Luton Town on January 24, 2026 – Photo: Dave Rowntree/PPAUK
Plymouth Argyle’s experienced midfielder Joe Ralls is to have season-ending surgery on the hamstring injury which he suffered last month.
Head coach Tom Cleverley confirmed the news during a Press conference at Home Park this lunchtime and wished the 32-year-old former Cardiff City captain well for his rehabilitation.
With Ralls now ruled out for the rest of the League One campaign, the transfer deadline day signing of Herbie Kane on loan from Huddersfield Town has taken on added importance.
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Kane is a similar type of player to Ralls and he will compete for a place in central midfield with Malachi Boateng and Brendan Wiredu, as well as Bradley Ibrahim, who is returning from a long-term ankle injury.
Ralls joined Argyle as a free agent in early November and once he had worked his way into the starting line-up he made a significant contribution to the Pilgrims’ upturn in results towards the end of 2025 and into this year.
However, he suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of the 1-0 home league win against Luton Town on January 24 and that has turned out to be his last appearance of the season.
Cleverley said: “The injury Joe suffered was right on the borderline of conservative rehab and surgical rehab. Because it was right on the borderline we wanted more than one opinion on that, and that process has taken a little bit of time.
“Now we have come to the conclusion that Joe will go for surgery and unfortunately it looks like he has played his last game this season for the club. Joe has only started eight league games for us but he has got the highest win percentage ratio than anyone.
“You can see what he brings to the engine room, that decision making, that intensity, that experience, but we feel like we have got a player in Herbie who is very similar in that respect.
“So let’s hope the midfield department stays fit from now until the end of the season. We appreciate what Joe did for us in a short period of time.”
The uncertainty over the severity of the injury to Ralls did not play any part in Argyle making the loan signing of 27-year-old Kane, who has recently recovered from a groin injury.
Cleverley said: “That was separate. We were always going to do that one. We looked at the four of them and they all bring something a little bit different.
“We never did take that into consideration but the Herbie signing looks an even better one now we know Joe’s injury news.”
Cleverley described Ralls as ‘a really intelligent guy’ and added: “I can relate to him being a similar kind of player, similar position, and a similar situation I found myself in towards the end of my career with a fairly serious injury.
“He needs to get this rehab right now for the longevity of his career and the best way to ensure that is the surgical route. I wish him all the best for his rehab, we will be here every step of the way for him and we will see what summer brings.”
Ralls signed a contract in January which takes him through until the end of the season so his future beyond then is now very unclear.
Asked whether Ralls could remain at Argyle into term, Cleverley said: “He would have to do a really good rehab and we would obviously need the player’s buy in as well. It’s a conversation for another day that one.”
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