Striker thrives on Cardiff reunion
New Wimbledon striker Jesse Darko says he is relishing the chance to link-up once again with two of his former team-mates from the Cardiff City academy.
The 19-year-old joined on loan from Cardiff yesterday and was reunited with Jonathan Meades and Kevin Sainte-Luce as the trio all came through the youth system at the South Wales club under the guidance of Neal Ardley.
Jesse (pictured above playing in a Cardiff versus Swansea development match in which he scored in November) has great memories of playing alongside both players and he could join them in the squad tomorrow at Dagenham & Redbridge.
Speaking to Rob Cornell on Dons Player, he said: “I remember Jonathan in my first year at Cardiff because he was one of the top players in the youth set-up. He is a very good defender and I played with him a couple of times for the reserves during my second year. Kevin is a great player and I came through the academy at the same time as him. He causes real problems for defenders with his ability and I have great memories of playing with Kevin.”
Born in Austria, the pacy forward moved to England when he was 10 and his goalscoring exploits for Bromley Under-14s attracted the interest of Cardiff City two years later. Despite progressing through the youth system and showing prolific form for the Cardiff’s development team, Darko has yet to feature for the first-team – and he is therefore determined to make an impression at AFC Wimbledon.
I worked with Neal Ardley for three years and he knows what I am like as a player. He knows that I will run hard for the team and do my best to help the club in this situation.”“All season I have been trying to get out on loan to get first-team games under my belt and show what I can do,” he added. “
Dons Player subscribers can watch the full video interview with Jesse Darko, along with an in-depth interview with Neal Ardley on improving his squad and preparations for Dagenham & Redbridge tomorrow.