AFC Wimbledon boss Downes given fitness boost

Posted Thursday, April 18, 2019 by PA

AFC Wimbledon boss Wally Downes received a major fitness boost ahead of Friday’s visit of Bristol Rovers after several senior players made it through a Central League match unscathed this week.

Captain Deji Oshilaja, Andy Barcham, Tom Soares, Tyler Garratt and Jake Jervis have all been absent from the first team for over a month but each played for the development squad in Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over Cheltenham.

Striker Kwesi Appiah, who missed last weekend’s draw at Oxford, also got 90 minutes under his belt as Downes was left with fully-fit squad to choose from.

The relegation-battling Dons are one point adrift of safety – and five behind Rovers – with four matches remaining in League One.

Daniel Leadbitter is closing in on a return to action for Graham Coughlan’s Pirates but this weekend is likely to come too soon for the defender.

The right-back has been unavailable since January due to injury but he completed the full match for the development side in midweek.

Alex Rodman, having made his first senior appearance in almost two months as a substitute against Bradford last week, also played in the Central League fixture as he builds match fitness and is set to be involved again this weekend.

Two other players who will have hoped to have pushed their claims for first-team recalls in midweek are veteran midfielder Chris Lines and 19-year-old striker Deon Moore, who scored both goals in the 2-1 win.