Neal's team update for Saturday's match
Neal Ardley today confirmed that Aaron Morris will be back in the AFC Wimbledon squad for Saturday’s trip to Fleetwood after he missed the win at Newport County.
Morris (pictured), who can play in defence or midfield, was rested on Tuesday, but his versatility will make him a big plus for the squad. However, the match is likely to come too soon for George Francomb, who has been struggling with a groin injury.
Speaking to Dons Player, Neal Ardley said: “Aaron was out for 10 months and one thing I promised myself when I signed him was that we would not flog him. He was still extremely tired on Monday and had a few knocks after Saturday’s game. Though we wanted him to play at Newport, we thought it best to leave him out.
“In Aaron’s absence, Sammy was immense and we know that Sammy can do that. Now we have a fresh Aaron Morris to give us a selection problem, which is great, so that has worked out well for us. George could probably just about train tomorrow, but the last thing we want to do is risk losing him for a longer spell.”
The Wimbledon manager stressed the importance of keeping his squad fresh after a tough week in the build-up to Fleetwood.
“A total of 48 hours after a game is always a tricky area with the boys being fatigued,” added Neal. “The boys put a lot into Saturday and were emotionally drained after that. Then they played on a heavy pitch on Tuesday. That was tough physically, even though we came away with smiles on our faces.
“Now we have a long journey up north and the first thing is to try and get the players physically and mentally where they need to be. We’ll set out early tomorrow and on the way up we’ll train at Bolton on their pitches. Then we’ll get to work on the focus and knowledge that we need to get into the players for Saturday.”
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