Goalkeeper Colin Doyle fits the bill for Plymouth Argyle

Colin Doyle is in pole position to fill the goalkeeping vacancy at Plymouth Argyle.

Romain Larrieu is the only senior 'keeper on the Pilgrims' books at present, and the Home Park outfit want to change that situation before the start of the npower League One campaign tomorrow week.

Doyle turned up at Edgar Street on Wednesday evening, and kept a clean-sheet in Plymouth's 1-0 friendly win over Hereford United. The 25-year-old is under contract to Birmingham City, who are willing to allow him to join Argyle on loan if the rest of his trial spell with the Pilgrims goes well.

"Birmingham have given us permission to have a look at the lad," Argyle manager Peter Reid said, after watching his side see off the Bulls with a second-half winner from Steve MacLean. "We've had a chat, and I think we might be able to get him."

The Pilgrims' boss was impressed by Doyle's display at Hereford. "I think he did well," Reid added. "He looked very assured. He has a good stature. Sometimes we're a quiet side, and at times during the game his voice was the only voice I could hear, which I thought was a big bonus for us."

Reid has been happy with Larrieu's pre-season work, but he wants the long-serving Frenchman to be put under real pressure for his place in the Pilgrims' team. "Romain has done great, but we need competition for places and it's an important position," Reid explained. "We need to have people looking over their shoulders to see if they're going to be in the side, and they have to play well."

Doyle, from Cork, has won one full cap for the Republic of Ireland. The 25-year-old has been a professional with Birmingham since 2003, and he has played 31 first-team games for City – three of them in the Premier League. If he stays at St Andrew's this season, he faces the prospect of being third-choice 'keeper, hence the desire for a loan move.

The other trialist in Argyle's side at Hereford was former Everton and Southampton left-back Lee Molyneux, who played throughout the second half against the Bulls. The 21-year-old is a free agent, and the Pilgrims will take a further look at him.

"Lee has not played many games," Reid said. "I think he's just lacking a bit of fitness, but he showed that he has plenty of energy. He made a couple of great runs. He'll be with us for a couple of weeks, I think."

Molyneux is likely to feature in Argyle's friendly against Queen's Park Rangers at Loftus Road tonight (7.30pm). Tony Capaldi is also expected to get a game in west London this evening – for Crystal Palace at Griffin Park, Brentford.

The left-back, who was a key player for Argyle from 2003 until 2007, rejoined the Pilgrims on trial earlier this month and played in all three of their friendlies in the Netherlands last week. He is a free agent, having left Cardiff City at the end of last month.

Capaldi played for Palace in a friendly at Bromley on Tuesday, and has been offered a place by the Selhurst Park club. Reid expects him to sign for George Burley's men.

The Argyle manager said: "We offered him something. He has been brilliant with us, but they're a Championship club and I think we might be struggling. That's football. The lad has made a decision, and I respect that decision."

Stéphane Zubar, a French defender from Romanian club Vaslui, has been training with Argyle this week but seems unlikely to get a game in public. "We're struggling to get permission for Zubar to play, but we'll have a look at him in training," Reid said.

Right-back Karl Duguid did not play at Hereford because of a shin injury he sustained on the Dutch tour, but he may appear tonight. Midfielder Carl Fletcher, who has an ankle injury, and centre-back Réda Johnson, who has a groin strain, are not expected to appear at Loftus Road.

"I think Duguid will be all right, but it might be too soon for Fletcher and Johnson," said Reid, who has not yet made up his mind about his starting XI for the League One opener at Southampton tomorrow week.

"I'm still having a look," he confirmed. "Everybody has a chance of playing. I'm still undecided about a couple of positions, and I'm still learning a little bit about the players."

Tonight's match ought to give Reid much more food for thought. He said: "The game against QPR will be a really good test for us. It will be a hard game."