Extra options boost Wimbledon says Weston
believes that he is now in much better shape and form to grasp any opportunities that come his way as an AFC Wimbledon player after his prolific loan spell at Braintree Town.Charlie Strutton
The 24-year-old striker (pictured above) spoke enthusiastically to Rob Cornell on Dons Player about his prospects back with the Dons after six goals in seven games with the Conference National club.
Though his return as a substitute at Hartlepool on Tuesday night did not go according to plan, Strutton is delighted to be back in the mix at Wimbledon and he is likely to be in the squad for tomorrow’s match at home to Oxford.
“It was disappointing not to get anything out of the game on Tuesday after travelling all that way, but we cannot dwell on it and we have to go for three points on Saturday,” Strutton said. “Before I went away I had only played in the game at Chesterfield. I think the loan has helped my fitness a lot and I am more confident now. I went to Braintree and scored goals. Hopefully, I can start playing a bit more here and score goals for Wimbledon.
“I have learnt a lot and the Conference is a physical league. If I get a chance I just need to try and be myself and score goals.”
, competition for places has certainly increased at AFC Wimbledon.Will Antwi and Andy FramptonWith Strutton now back in the mix, along with
says this is exactly what is needed at a time when the Dons have gone five matches without a victory.Rhys WestonExperienced centre-back
“The strange thing is that I thought we were reasonably comfortable for long periods of the game at Hartlepool,” Weston said. “We showed character to get back into it at 1-1, but we did not consolidate on that. We need to move on now. At the start of the season we were very dangerous going forward, but that has not been the case recently and we have been working on that.
too up there. We have got good options and everyone knows what the expectations levels are now.”Jack Midson and Michael Smith“Competition for places is now as strong as it has been all season. Everyone in the team has to be on their games and the boys that do come in have to take their opportunities. That is the only way that we are going to get back to winning ways and start moving forward again. I thought it was always going to be tough for me to get game-time this season and even more so with Andy and Will now available again. Charlie has come back after a successful loan period at Braintree and we also have
Oxford are currently fourth in League 2 now and they visit The Cherry Red Records Stadium tomorrow having beaten Wimbledon in all four previous meetings since the Dons returned to the Football League.
was caretaker manager when Wimbledon came closest to getting something against Oxford in a 3-2 defeat at the Kassam Stadium last October. Wimbledon’s first-team coach is anticipating another tough test tomorrow with both clubs now having different expectations from this time last year.Simon Bassey
“It was a disappointing result that night because we scored two goals away from home and still lost,” said Simon. “We learned lessons from that and over a year later both clubs are hoping to be at the other end of the table. Oxford were on a bad run at this time last year. Their form has changed and our league position is different too.”
to listen to his thoughts on Saturday’s Oxford challenge.Callum’s interview to read what our first-team manager had to say and Neal’s view -BBC Radio London yesterday interviewed Neal Ardley and Callum Kennedy at the training ground. Click on
.Team News-If you missed Simon’s first-team update for the Oxford match yesterday, then please click on
-The full interviews with Simon Bassey, Charlie Strutton and Rhys Weston are all on Dons Player.