Tommy Wood has been rewarded for his progress at AFC Wimbledon with a new contract.
The 20-year-old striker, who signed on the dotted line this afternoon, has made two first-team appearances during 2018/19 and impressed with goals for our development squad. Hillingdon-born Tommy had spells as a youth player at Reading and Burnley, before initially coming here on trial at the end of last season.
Tommy is currently on loan with National League South side Slough Town, but Glyn Hodges believes he can be a part of the club’s future.
“Every day here is an opportunity for him to improve and see where it takes him. He’s just got to go out and score goals, to go and be a success somewhere. Tommy is one for the future, but if he can put a run of games together of important performances then we could easily call him back and get him in the team.
“At the moment, he’s at Slough and it’s a new environment for him with new team-mates. We will give him a few games to settle in, but then he’s got to be smashing goals in. That’s the name of the game and if he’s scoring goals at that level, then that gives him a chance to get to the next level and the next level after that. Then you throw him in and anything can happen. He’s a centre forward who will hopefully be a big part of it in the future.”
Shortly after signing, Tommy said: “I am delighted as I’ve really enjoyed it since coming here. There’s a good group of lads here and I’ve worked with Alan Reeves for six or seven months now. I’ve learned a lot by just making little tweaks, and he’s developed things in my game that have helped me as a player.
“I’ve gone on loan to Slough Town and I need to get a bit more experience out there and be more aggressive in my play and score goals. That’s the main thing really. As long as I’m showing the gaffer that I can score goals, it will put me in good stead to try and get into the first-team.”
Click on the link above for a full interview on iFollow with Tommy Wood, who talks about turning down a big opportunity in America to join AFC Wimbledon.
Tommy becomes the latest member of our development squad to put pen to paper on a new contract with New Zealand international goalkeeper Nik Tzanev having signed recently.
Nik, who is on loan at Ryman Premier club Potters Bar Town, made his international debut for The Kiwis last summer after being on the bench for our first-team.
Speaking about Nik’s progress, our development coach Alan Reeves said: “Nik has done well. He came here just to train initially following a bad injury at Brentford. Every upward step that we have put him on he has taken it in his stride. He’s on loan at Potters Bar at the moment and they are really pleased with him. They have extended his loan, but we’ve got a call back on him if need be. Nik has all the attributes to be an excellent goalkeeper. Mentally there was a question mark, but at Potters Bar he has stepped up and played men’s football. Every step you make on that ladder you are asked more and more questions. You have to answer those questions, otherwise you fall back down a level.”