Glyn Hodges is counting the hours until his first match since being appointed as AFC Wimbledon manager and he believes the squad have benefited from a break.
With no game last weekend, Glyn gave the squad a few days off before preparing them for the challenge of facing Lincoln at home this Saturday.
New Assistant Manager Nick Daws has also pitched in with his coaching ideas and Glyn says there’s been a real feel-good factor about the place as Wimbledon aim to get back to winning ways.
“Sometimes when you give the boys more than one day off they come back and they are not at it, they are still on their jollies, but from the first moment of Monday’s training session they were brilliant. We’ve continued that right the way through, so we are just working through a few bits and pieces and we will be ready to go on Saturday.
“Nick has been great, providing a different voice and new ideas. I thought that Monday would be his day and I just said, ‘you work with the players, get to know them, and how you work’. The session was great and I think the boys thoroughly enjoyed it. We’ve continued that, we’ve split the group from time to time. Nick is very hands-on and he has a big input, as Vaughan and Robbo do. Different coaches have different drills, so it’s nice to throw something new in and things the players haven’t done before. We like to keep a variety and we don’t want them doing the same things all of the time. The theme is the same, but we are just trying to be inventive in how we put it across.
“I’m looking forward to Saturday. The week seems to be dragging on because I can’t wait to get to 3.00 pm on Saturday. All I’ve got to do is thoroughly prepare the players, so at least I can sleep well on Friday night and then on Saturday enjoy it. Hopefully, the boys enjoy their performance because that will mean it will be positive.”
Captain Will Nightingale (hip) is still sidelined, but Luke O’Neill has made good progress from the calf injury that has kept him out for the last month.
“Will has not made it, we are trying to work out the timescale with the seriousness of his injury,” added Glyn. “It’s one of those niggly ones that might drag on. Luke O’Neill had his first session back today. It might be a bit early for him this weekend, but it was good to see him come through and he’s another experienced man back out there training and working to get back into the team.”
Take a look below at the full interview with Glyn ahead of Lincoln.
Watch The Dons take on Lincoln City at the Cherry Red Records Stadium this Saturday by ordering tickets via the link below. Please note that this game is all-ticket.
