Striker ready to end testing year on a high
Jason Prior is closing in on a return after joining in with the rest of Wimbledon’s squad for the first time after eight months out.
Speaking to Rob Cornell on Dons Player, the striker had a smile on his face after today's training session at New Malden as he finally linked up with his team-mates after a long spell on the sidelines.
After suffering a knee injury on his debut against Aldershot in January, Prior returned to action for the match at Southend United on Easter Monday. There was little chance to build on his encouraging full debut though as he suffered a sickening double leg break at Crawley. It has been a testing year for Prior since the elation of leaving non league football with Bognor behind to become a full-time footballer at Wimbledon.
However, the towering target man is now just days away from being able to participate in full contact training with the rest of the squad.
“It has been a mixed bag for me this year,” he admitted. “It started by signing professional forms for the first time. I suffered a niggling injury, then came back and broke my leg so I have not had the best of times. Hopefully, I can get fit now and look forward to a better year. Today was my first training session back with the rest of the players. It is non-contact training to start with and then I can build it up. My fitness is pretty good as I have been working with Jason Moriarty so it is just about me getting my sharpness back and hopefully I can get a few games under my belt.”
Watching fellow strikers Jack Midson and Charlie Strutton net important goals in the FA Cup has certainly left Prior eager to make an impression himself and he is determined to repay the faith shown in him by AFC Wimbledon by being a useful option for manager Neal Ardley.
“I asked Jack what the feeling was like getting that goal on Sunday because I don’t think he will enjoy a better moment in a Wimbledon shirt,” Prior added. “Hopefully, I can get a few when I come back. Charlie has also shown what can be done in coming from a lowly non league level into the professional ranks. He has proven people wrong in making that step and I want to do the same.”
The full video interview with Jason Prior can be viewed on Dons Player, along with a first-team update from Simon Bassey.