Team news for Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie
Simon Bassey updated us on the latest news from the training ground in an interview for Dons Player this afternoon.
AFC Wimbledon will hand Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz his competitive debut in goal for the trip to Roots Hall, while youngsters Frankie Merrifield and Huw Johnson are likely to be given another chance to impress after second-half substitute appearances against Dagenham on Saturday.
Simon said: “This competition is one that we like to put the youngsters in for. We will look at making a few changes to the team and they are two players who stand a good chance of starting. If they get a start and impose themselves on the team, then it will show their abilities to hold down a regular place.”
Our first-team coach says the Dons will field a strong side at Southend though as the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy last season provided a morale-boosting penalty shoot-out win against Stevenage.
“It is a tough game away at Southend, but their start to the season has also not been what they would have wanted,” he added. “We want to try and go there and get something. We played really well against Stevenage in the competition last season and hopefully we can replicate that tomorrow night.”
Luke Moore (knee), Rashid Yussuff (ankle) and Curtis Haynes-Brown (neck) are all still out through injury, though all three could be back in full training later this week. Curtis Osano is back running, but he is currently unable to do sharp turns and club physio Mike Rayner is awaiting the results of an MRI scan on his injured ankle.
Admission prices for tomorrow’s match are just £5 for adults and concessions and £2 for Under-16s. In the event of the match being level at 90 minutes, then the tie will go straight to penalties.