Captain expects left-back to slot in effectively
Captain Barry Fuller believes that Callum Kennedy has plenty of quality to be a consistent first-team performer once again after the left-back helped keep a clean sheet on Saturday.
Kennedy (pictured) was making his first League 2 start since January against Orient, but he slotted in effectively after being called upon to fill the left-back role after an injury to Jon Meades.
Speaking to Dons Player, Fuller said: “It is disappointing that Jon picked up an injury, but it’s a chance for Callum to come in and show that he deserves his place. Callum has done that whenever he has stepped in and he proves that he is a top player. He is naturally left footed, which is a bit different, and he is really athletic. Callum likes to deliver crosses and with people like Tom Elliott he is willing to get on the end of them. The first thing Callum thinks is to get the ball into the box, he has great delivery and great quality.”
Right-back Fuller was delighted that AFC Wimbledon earned a third successive clean sheet against Orient and he reckons it shows the progress made this season.
“We’ve learned how to grind out results,” he added. “Sometimes it is not going to be pretty, but we are picking up results. It’s five wins in a row and three successive clean sheets, which is a positive thing. Darius (Charles) and ‘Robbo’ have played a few games together now and they are animals at the back! They win every header and it’s nice to have a left and a right footer at the heart of defence because they complement each other.
“Tom is also great to have in the defensive box as well as in attack. When he comes back to defend from long throws and corners he always gets on the end of them. He is great to have in the team. Lyle and Tom are working together well. Lyle is getting all the headlines and he deserves them because he keeps putting the ball in the net. Tom is not scoring as much, but he is the battering ram for Lyle. When he plays like he has in the last five or six games he is unplayable.”
to view a short clip of Tom Elliott’s post-match Dons Player interview after the win against Leyton Orient. You TubeClick on