Jaakko Oksanen can’t wait for his first taste of playing football at Plough Lane after returning to the Wimbledon squad last week.
Our first matches back at the club’s spiritual home came during Jaakko’s two-month spell out with an ankle injury, the 20-year-old midfielder completing his rehabilitation at his parent club Brentford. Jaakko got back in the groove of playing League One football with a substitute appearance at Oxford United – and he will be proud to wear the Dons badge at our new stadium.
“It would be fantastic to play there,” said Jaakko ahead of the home match versus Lincoln City. “Hopefully, I will be in the starting 11 and I can make my debut at Plough Lane. The story is unbelievable – what the fans have been doing for the club – so it will be an honour for me to play at Plough Lane.
“It’s a tough game ahead, but we have the ability to beat anyone in this league, so we just have to keep doing our thing. There were loads of good bits in the game against Oxford. If we can continue doing the same stuff we were doing in that game I think results will come our way at some point. We were really good in the second-half. It was fantastic for me to get back out there playing football.
“I enjoy high-tempo, physical, games, so I really like playing in England. The biggest role for me is to balance the game between attacking and defending. For me, it’s all about giving the team a good balance.”
Jaakko added that the squad and staff here have really helped to make him feel at home during his loan spell.
“My long-term goal is to get back to Brentford at some point and start playing for them in the Championship or the Premier League. When I first thought about coming here it was exciting, and also a bit scary, but straight away from the first day I was made to feel at home. All the lads and staff are really kind to me, so I’m pleased with that.
"Coming to England to play football was a dream of mine and I’ve been able to do that. Of course, it helps now that I know the language and the culture a bit better.”