New number 9 aims to hit the ground running
Matt Tubbs believes a full pre-season at AFC Wimbledon can revitalise his career after injury blighted his hopes of making it in the Championship at Bournemouth last year.
The striker missed virtually all of pre-season in 2013 with a recurring thigh injury, but Matt hopes it will be a different story this time around and he can start his loan spell at Wimbledon with a bang.
Speaking to Rob Cornell during a Dons Player interview ahead of the pre-season friendly against Chelsea, Matt talked about the importance of pre-season for him and playing his part in a successful Wimbledon team.
“We’ve had a good few weeks in training so far, but the manager and Jason Moriarty (AFC Wimbledon Sports Scientist) have drilled in what they want from us,” said Matt. “If we get niggles then we are out and in the physio room. The manager wants us all to be fit for the start of the season and that is key. I had a thigh injury last pre-season and it really hampered me. I need a good pre-season so that it can stand me in good stead for next season.
“The manager was really positive in the meetings I had with him before I signed and he’s stuck to his word by bringing in quality signings for the squad. That bodes well for the start of the season and hopefully we can be near the top end of League 2 next season. The manager has recruited really well and there’s good experience in the team. If we lose a couple of games then the lads will not get too disappointed about it. We have a cracking squad here now, which is capable of competing in this division.”
Matt can’t wait to make his home bow in a Wimbledon shirt tomorrow – and it’s an added bonus that it will come in front of a sell-out crowd against Premier League Chelsea.
“It’s always good to play against the big boys and they don’t come much bigger than Chelsea,” Matt added. “Hopefully they will have some big names out and it will be an exciting game. It’s brilliant for the lads to say that they’ve played against great players, but it’s not about individual battles. It’s more important that we get a good base of fitness and stay injury-free.
“Playing in front of a full house is brilliant at the best of times and playing against Chelsea will be an added incentive to work harder. I’ve always said that team spirit is massive at any club and it will drag you through the season. With the lads that are here there is no reason why that won’t happen.”
Dons Player subscribers can watch the full video interview with Matt Tubbs, along with the thoughts of Neil Cox and Sammy Moore on playing against Chelsea.