The 17-year-old scored an equaliser for Argyle as a second half substitute in their quarter-final defeat by Luton Town
09:28, 26 Feb 2026Updated 13:45, 26 Feb 2026
Goal celebrations for Tegan Finn of Plymouth Argyle after scoring the equaliser for 1-1 during the Vertu Trophy match between Luton Town and Plymouth Argyle at Kenilworth Road, Luton on 24 February 2026 (Photo: Alan Stanford/PPAUK)
Tom Cleverley has explained that Tegan Finn deserved his chance of a return to first team action for Plymouth Argyle in the Vertu Trophy tie at Luton Town and thought the 17-year-old made the most of the opportunity.
Finn was a substitute for Matty Sorinola midway through the second half of the quarter-final at Kenilworth Road and scored an equaliser for the Pilgrims as they drew level at 1-1 in the 77th minute.
Argyle went on to be beaten by Luton after conceding an 89th minute penalty converted by Jordan Clark but the impact of Finn coming off the bench was one consolation for Cleverley, which he described as a ‘big positive’.
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Finn has made six starts and eight substitute appearances for the Pilgrims this season, scoring his first two senior goals in a 6-2 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s at Home Park in a Vertu Trophy group stage game.
However, prior to the Luton match, the talented teenager had not played for the first team since he came off the bench near the end of the 3-0 home League One win against Burton Albion on January 4.
Finn returned to action on Tuesday, though, after getting four goals – including a seven-minute hat-trick – for Argyle under-18s in a 6-2 EFL Youth Alliance win away to Newport County at the weekend.
Cleverley said: “It has been tough for Tegan because he has played 18 appearances for the first team at 17 years old, which is success, but in the last two months not as much as he would like.
“That’s down to the form of a lot of our attacking players. We have scored 12 goals in our last three league games.
“Tegan went away, he has worked hard, he has got his head down, he has scored four goals for the 18s at the weekend, he deserves his chance.
“That is how we work with everyone. You show enough in training, you show enough in the processes through the week then you will be given a chance.
“That is the platform for everybody. I thought some people took their chance (against Luton) and some people didn’t.”
Finn got his goal when Luton goalkeeper James Shea was closed down by Ronan Curtis after a back pass towards him and his rushed clearance went out to Argyle’s young attacking player, who from 35 yards out sent the ball into the unguarded net.
Goal celebrations for Tegan Finn of Plymouth Argyle after scoring the equaliser for 1-1 during the Vertu Trophy match between Luton Town and Plymouth Argyle at Kenilworth Road, Luton on 24 February 2026 (Photo: Alan Stanford/PPAUK)(Image: Alan Stanford/PPAUK)
Cleverley commented after the defeat by Luton that it had been a ‘really lacklustre performance’ from Argyle, who were playing their fourth game in 11 days, and the third away from home during that period after league wins at Blackpool and Leyton Orient.
The Pilgrims’ boss was not prepared to use the busy schedule and the amount of long-distance travelling as an excuse for the team’s display at Kenilworth Road.
Cleverley said: “We have shown we can travel this season. Eight out of the last 10 away games we have won. We have done five in a row this season away from home.
“This week, after Rotherham (at the New York Stadium on Saturday), that will be four away out of the last five, but absolutely no excuse.”
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