An update from Alan Reeves ahead of cup tie
AFC Wimbledon’s young talent will be aiming to clinch a place in the Final Third Development League Cup semi-finals with a positive outcome at Gillingham tomorrow (1.00 pm kick-off).
At least a point for Alan Reeves’ side will seal a place in the last-four of the national competition with the Dons currently second in Southern Group A.
It will be a very young squad the Dons will be taking to Gillingham, apart from first-team centre-back Mark Phillips.
Alan Reeves said: “It is a competition we have done well in this season. We have beaten Milton Keynes and got a decent draw against an experienced Brighton side. We need a point at Gillingham now to progress.
“It is hard at the moment. We have had injuries to some of our Under-21s so we are lacking in numbers, but that means there will be a chance for two or three lads who have not yet played at this level. We will have a couple of Under-16 lads on the bench.
“The aim is to get as many players as we can into the first-team squad. At the start of this season Ben Harrison did well and got his professional contract, but he was then in and out of the squad. I told him that if he kept working hard then he would get another chance and that is what happened.
“Mark Phillips has not played a lot of games so he asked to play and the manager is fine with that. He will give us some experience, which we will need.”
The full interview with Alan Reeves is now on Dons Player, along with an in-depth interview with Under-18s manager Mark Robinson about the next crop of young Dons coming through the ranks.
George Oakley, who returned to full training today, will not be rushed back though in his recuperation from a hamstring injury that curtailed his first-team progress this season.
“George has completed two weeks of fitness work with Jason Moriarty and he trained with us today for the first time since his injury,” added Reeves. “Hopefully, in two or three weeks he will be able to get some minutes for us.”
Alan Reeves was speaking during an interview with Rob Cornell for Dons Player.