Ronan Curtis Thrives After Knee Surgery as Argyle Winger

Ronan Curtis has parked the painkillers and the doubts. Now he just wants minutes.

The 30-year-old Plymouth Argyle winger says he has suffered no ill effects from summer knee surgery and is already repaying the club’s faith with an ever-present start to the League One campaign.

Curtis, who made his move from Port Vale permanent in January, scored twice in 23 appearances in all competitions last season as he played through a meniscus tear that refused to settle.

“The knee’s good,” he told BBC South West, a simple verdict after a complicated year.

He first damaged the knee in pre-season last year, then chose to grit his teeth and manage the problem through 2023-24. Swelling became a regular visitor. So did the tablets that got him through games.

It was a short-term fix. He knew it.

“It was something that I did last pre-season, had a slight meniscus tear but I could play through the pain just managing it through last season,” he said. “It was something that I needed to get done in the summer because the odd time it would swell up and taking too many tablets to get me through games and stuff like that, but I'm all fit and healthy now.”

This time, there was no compromise. The surgery went ahead in the summer, the rehab followed, and Curtis insists he has returned “back to my fully fit best now”.

The numbers back up the feeling. He has started all five of Argyle’s League One matches so far, as the Pilgrims have opened with two wins and two defeats, leaning on his energy and experience out wide.

“I have all faith in myself to come back stronger, fitter and much better,” he said, sounding more like a player gearing up for a long season than one easing himself in after an operation.

For Argyle, a fully firing Curtis on the flank is not a luxury. It could shape how high they dare to look this year.