Fit-again forward aims to recapture his best
Brendan Kiernan says he is determined to stake a claim for a place in Wimbledon’s first-team once again after making his return last night.
The 20-year-old forward, who was out for over three months with a knee injury, produced a lively display after entering the fray as a substitute and marked his comeback with the winner in a 1-0 Surrey Senior Cup victory against Ashford Town .
Kiernan, who started the season well and scored Wimbledon’s first competitive goal of the season at Stevenage in August, has not featured since the 2-2 draw against Dagenham and Redbridge on 1 September.
Speaking to Rob Cornell on Dons Player, he said: “It has been about three-and-half months out for me and when you have been out for that length of time you are just happy to be back playing again. To get a goal was a bonus for me. My main motive is to push as hard as I can by working hard in training and in these games so that I can force my way into the first-team. I have to keep pushing myself to do that though.”
The Wimbledon youth product added that last night’s Surrey Senior Cup tie was a useful exercise for senior players on the way back, along with youngsters like Huw Johnson and himself.
“I said to Huw after the game that it was a joy to play with him as we both ended up playing up front near the end,” Kiernan added. “He has a great strike and you have to try and follow-up those strikes in case you pick up the scraps. One of the main things tonight was for players like Mat Mitchel-King, Pim Balkestein and Jason Prior to also get game time. I am just trying to get my match fitness up and to get a goal was a bonus for me.”
The full video interview with Brendan Kiernan can be viewed on Dons Player.