Lameiras intends to earn starting place
Plymouth’s match-winner does not want to settle for role as substitute as results pick up
Ruben Lameiras is letting his football do the talking for him as he stakes his claim for regular first-team football at Plymouth Argyle.
The 23-year-old playmaker has started only eight games this season, while coming off the bench six times.
Lameiras has still netted four goals, though, making him the Pilgrims’ second-top scorer behind striker Freddie Ladapo.
His match-winning ability was evident last Saturday when Argyle saw off Stevenage 1-0 at Home Park in the FA Cup first round.
Lameiras, on as a secondhalf substitute, grabbed the decisive goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time with a well-placed shot.
Now his aim is produce the performances which can convince manager Derek Adams to pick him in the starting line-up week in, week out.
Lameiras said: “I’m happy being in and around the team but I want to play every minute of every game.
“I want to start games. At the minute, all I can do is let my football do the talking and hopefully he [Adams] trusts me in to do the business.”
Although they left it late, it was another decent performance at the weekend from Argyle, whose results have started to pick up over recent weeks after a torrid start to the season.
Lameiras said: “I think the boys have been playing really well. We are starting to play a bit more football. Everyone is getting on the ball and we are getting the benefits from that, even with just the performances, which are now turning into results.
“If we get going we will be force, and we are starting to show that.”
He continued: “I think there is a lack of frustration now. Everyone is trying to get on the ball and make things happen. Everyone is coming more into their own. We have got some players who, at the beginning of the season, were probably a bit anxious.
“Now they are coming into themselves really well, and I think even in training it has gone up a gear or two.
“There is a real buzz about us at the moment and I think we will get out from the spot we are in [in League One].”
Lameiras was a 55th-minute substitute against Stevenage and his introduction gave Argyle plenty of attacking options. He played in a central role behind Ladapo, flanked by Graham Carey and Joel Grant, and with Antoni Sarcevic in a deeper position but still capable of getting forward.
Lameiras said: “Sarce [Sarcevic] has played a lot of roles for us, and he has been great wherever he has played.
“The likes of G [Carey], myself, Joel and Freddie, we can cause teams problems if we get in the right areas.
“With the football that we are playing, we are getting into those areas more and more, and we are creating more chances and we are scoring more goals.”
Lameiras struck the winning goal against Stevenage after Carey had a fierce shot parried away by goalkeeper Seny Dieng.
Michael Timlin failed to clear the ball properly and Lameiras did the rest.
Lameiras said: “I have been shooting a lot more than I have done before.
“This was an instinctive one. I just took on my left [foot] and tried to put it in the corner,” he added.
“I think I got six goals last season and I’m already on four.
“I’m trying to work on that and turn my chances into goals or assists.
“The boys are brilliant. They always find me and try to get me on the ball as much as possible.”
He added: “With the likes of me, Joel and G, we are very much the same in the sense that we can play in any of those three positions.
“I think it’s a bit of a pickle for teams when they don’t know where we are going to pop up.
“With us three going forward and Freddie having that main role up front, we like to interchange.”
With a couple of wins in League One, plus progress in the FA Cup, there is a more positive mood around Home Park than earlier in the campaign.
Lameiras said: “We can’t get too carried away just because of a few good results but, for me, it’s about the performances and the way we are playing and that will turn into results.
“As long as we keep the performances as high as they are now, it will definitely come.”