Players back in the frame for Good Friday clash
Neal Ardley today confirmed that his squad will be strengthened for the trip to Swindon Town by the return of key players.
Andy Barcham is back in the frame after putting a groin injury behind him and he will be joined in the squad by Tom Soares and Dean Parrett with the midfield pair having shaken off illness.
Striker Tom Elliott is doubtful with the hamstring injury that caused him to miss the home defeat to Bristol Rovers.
Speaking during a pre-match update for Dons Player, Neal said: “We’ve had the lads who were out with illness back in training all week and Andy Barcham has trained today so he is back in contention. We will have a look at Tom Elliott and see whether he can play a part in any of the games over the weekend. Other than Barry Fuller, we are close to where we want to be.”
Following two defeats, Neal has been happy with the response of his players in training and the manager reiterated the importance of finishing this season strongly.
and I know which one has a nicer ring to it. We don’t want to carry poor form into the end of season and the start of the following season.th or 17th, 16th“You are always judged on your finishing position,” said Neal. “No one remembers that you were seventh at one point in the season or that you were bottom after four games. What they will remember is wherever we finish after our first season in League One. It is the difference of six or seven positions, based on the last four games. We could be 10
“There is a balance to be had of giving more playing time to younger people, but at the same time you need to put out a team that says you are worried by the result. We’ve worked really hard, as we always do. The staff are constantly pushing the players on, trying to keep the tempo and making sure the levels are where they need to be. We need the players to have the same mentality and I think by and large they have. I know there are loads of comments going on about them being on their holidays already, but it is not that. We are just having a sticky couple of results.
“You have to start with the non-negotiables – the opposition cannot want it more than you. That is unacceptable. We want to go out with that intensity and that is the message that has been carried across to them. I don’t care where we are in the league, we want to win games of football. You want to take positives from games of football and ultimately the result is the biggest positive you can take from it. We will be going for that and I will be very disappointed if Swindon want to win the game more than us.”
The full interview with Neal Ardley is now on Dons Player, along with an interview with Jake Reeves ahead of a return back to his old club.