MIDFIELDER Damien Johnson is expected to be fit for the start of pre-season training with Plymouth Argyle.

The 32-year-old has made a successful recovery from a cruciate knee ligament injury, which he suffered last December while on loan to Huddersfield Town.

Argyle will begin pre-season training on Monday, July 4 with a series of fitness tests.

That will give the club's medical staff an overall assessment of the players' physical condition after the summer break.

The Pilgrims will then start their preparations for the 2011/12 League Two campaign by getting out on the training pitch on July 5.

Manager Peter Reid had scheduled to start pre-season on Tuesday, June 28.

But he has put that back a week because of the continuing uncertainty over the future of the club.

With the Pilgrims still in administration, and with no buy-out agreement in place, Reid cannot add any recruits to his small squad.

Johnson is one of only 11 players who are currently under contract to Argyle for next season.

That follows the transfer of winger Yannick Bolasie to Championship club Bristol City earlier this month.

However, not all of those 11 players may be present at the start of pre-season training.

The Herald understands that Icelandic midfielder Kari Arnason wants to leave Argyle, possibly to return to his homeland.

And Pilgrims' officials have not been able to make contact with Zimbabwe international Onismor Bhasera, the versatile left-sided player.

He returned to Africa after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in a 2-0 defeat away to Hartlepool United in March.

Bhasera is not expected to be ready to return to action before the end of 2011.

Johnson signed on a season-long loan for Huddersfield last August, as part of cost-cutting measures by Argyle. The experienced midfielder had arrived at Home Park in February 2010, on a lucrative contract from then Premier League club Birmingham City.

Johnson played regularly for Huddersfield until tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.

That brought his loan spell to a premature end, and saw him commence a long rehabilitation process, which is now nearing completion.

Reid told The Herald: "I have been told his fitness levels are really good. He looks likely to start pre-season training."

Johnson has another 12 months on his contract with Argyle, and his Championship-level wages will pose a serious problem for a club who will be playing in League Two and operating under a salary cap next season.

Both parties would almost certainly prefer to go their separate ways, but that would take a financial agreement being reached between them, which seems very unlikely given the amount of money involved.

Huddersfield were ready to sign Johnson on a permanent transfer this summer had they been promoted from League One last season and he played more than 50 per cent of their matches

But the Terriers lost to Peterborough United in the play-off final and, anyway, Johnson did not feature in enough games because of his injury.

Huddersfield manager Lee Clark is not thought to have an interest in re-signing Johnson.

And, after his long lay-off, Johnson has not had an opportunity to put himself in the shop window.

So, for the time being at least, he remains part of Argyle's squad.

The Pilgrims have, so far, only confirmed three pre-season friendlies, the first of which is against Bristol City at Home Park on Friday, July 15.

There has been talk about an away game against Torpoint Athletic on Tuesday, July 12, but that has still to be finalised.