Sweeney and Fenlon take vital steps
joined in with the rest of AFC Wimbledon’s first-team squad at the start of pre-season training today.Jim Fenlon and Peter SweeneyReturning pair
– came through a first training session with their new club at New Malden.Chris Arthur, Barry Fuller, Ashley Bayes, Ross Worner and Charlie SheringhamWimbledon’s five summer signings –
said that the return of Sweeney (pictured above) and Fenlon, who have both been out since February, was like signing two more new players.Neil CoxHowever, Assistant Manager
. “There was no problem for him, his foot was fine, and he has been off and running today. Peter looked quite good already. Jim also joined in today, but he had a lighter session and is two or three days behind everyone else. We want to make sure he is alright. They are two players who are like new signings for us in a way. Everyone is on their toes because they will all want to play in the first match of next season and we will have 20 players fighting for spots.Dons Player“Peter has started straight away,” Neil told
“All the new boys have been welcomed into the football club. We have set out the rules and regulations so that they know what is expected from them at this football club. They have settled in well and because we have a smaller squad next season we need to have a good team spirit. We therefore had some fun and games too when they came in this morning.”
Sweeney has not played since the home match against Northampton on 19 February due to a broken foot, while Fenlon’s last game was at Chesterfield on 9 February.
During his interview for Dons Player, Neil also talked about the changes that AFC Wimbledon’s coaching team have made at the training ground during the close season, including bringing in new training equipment. This interview can now be watched on our premium site, along with the thoughts of Fitness Coach Jason Moriarty.
Jason told Rob Cornell that it appeared from initial indications that the players had stuck to their close season fitness programmes!
“As soon as players came back my intern this year recorded the height and weight of each player and I recorded their body fat,” said Jason. “We will then churn out those numbers and see where everyone stands. We expect players to come back with a little bit of excess fat, which they will burn off during pre-season.
“Looking at the numbers now it appears that everyone has been eating okay and following their individual programmes.”