An update from Alan Reeves ahead of development fixture
AFC Wimbledon’s development side will finally get back into competitive action at Luton Town tomorrow (1.00 pm kick-off) with several first-team players involved.
Alan Reeves’ side have not played a match for almost a month since winning 3-0 at Milton Keynes with postponements having disrupted the Final Third Development League fixture list.
However, tomorrow the young Dons are scheduled to play at Kenilworth Road in a match open to spectators (£2 for adults, £1 concessions).
Jake Nicholson, Callum Kennedy, Kevin Sainte-Luce, George Oakley and Ben Harrison (pictured) will offer first-team experience to a young Wimbledon squad that will include Will Nightingale, who has put his injury problems behind him.
Speaking to Rob Cornell during an interview for Dons Player, Alan Reeves says it will be a relief to start playing competitive matches again after a frustrating spell for his squad.
“I would like to think that we have a settled back five, including Joe McDonnell, but they have not played enough games between them,” said Alan. “You can do as much coaching as you want on the training pitch, but the best way to coach the players is in games. You can make a note of their mistakes and then go through it with them individually after watching the DVDs of the games.
“I’ve got Will Nightingale back and he needs to play 90 per cent of the games between now and the end of the season. He’s not played a lot at centre-back in his career. I want to really work with him and also Ryan Sweeney in defence.
“It’s been a bit disappointing lately with the fixture pile-up, but it means we will have games week in and week out in the New Year. It’s been frustrating for the players and just last week we were ready to go on the coach to Portsmouth, but it was called off at 10.30 am.
“Kevin Sainte-Luce has been disappointed not to be in the first-team and that’s understandable, but he’s still been coming in with smile on his face. He’s been getting his head down and getting on with it and last week he was asking me if this game would definitely be on. They’re all keen to play and want to get minutes under their belts.”
The development side are scheduled to have their first game at Merstham FC next Monday night (also against Luton Town) in a 7.00 pm kick-off. We will update the fixtures on the official website for the development squad very soon after recent rearrangements.
Dons Player subscribers can watch the update from Alan Reeves on our premium channel and an interview with Ryan Sweeney, who was an unused substitute for the first-team at Oxford United recently, will follow shortly.