Armani Little looking to be a trendsetter for AFC Wimbledon after surprise loan switch from Forest Green Rovers

BY EDMUND BRACK

Armani Little did not expect to leave Forest Green on loan in the January transfer window but says this AFC Wimbledon spell is massive for his career.

Little had made 25 appearances in all competitions under Forest Green manager Ian Burchnall – who has since been sacked and replaced by Duncan Ferguson – but was allowed to join the League Two Dons midway through the January window.

The midfielder has quickly cemented his place in Johnnie Jackson’s side and was hailed by his new boss for his performance in the 1-0 win over Stockport County, his first start for the club.

Little said: “I found out about the interest from Wimbledon and I wasn’t getting enough minutes at Forest Green, so I thought: ‘I want to be playing football – this is a great opportunity for me to take’.

“I didn’t expect to go out on loan. It was always something in the back of my mind that I was thinking about, but I was really intrigued by Wimbledon’s interest. I knew how well they were doing in the league and they were on a good run of form. Everything fell into place.

“This loan is massive. I could have stayed at Forest Green, playing when I was selected here and there, but I wanted to take a challenge. I wanted to come and make an impact and push this club into the play-offs.”

Little came through Southampton’s academy He signed for the Premier League side at the age of 12 and earned his first professional contract at 18 in 2015. He learned his craft alongside Harrison Reed and Matt Target, now at Fulham and Newcastle.

Little, who can play as a deep-lying playmaker or behind the attack, trained with the Saints’ first team under Mauricio Pochettino and was taken by Mauricio Pellegrino on the pre-season tour of Austria in 2017.

“Southampton was really good for me,” said Little, a Portsmouth fan. “It put me in good stead for where I am today. It taught me discipline, on and off the field.

“I trained with the first team a few times. Going and training alongside some world-class players, you can just take little bits from them and learn from that.”

Little was released in the summer of 2018 and headed to Oxford United. He finally earned his first men’s football experience after being loaned to National League side Woking that same summer.

“It’s never nice, is it?” said Little of his release from the Saints. “At 21, I had no men’s football under my belt. While it wasn’t nice being told ‘no’, at the same time, it was a chance for me to go and become someone new – earn a career.

“Playing in the U21s league is all good, but going into a men’s environment and playing for three points is massive.

“You see dressing rooms where you’re not winning, and there are fights – you’re playing for people to carry on paying their mortgages. The best thing I did was go on loan to Woking.”

The 25-year-old joined Forest Green in the summer from Torquay United – where he spent three seasons – after bagging 15 goals and recording 10 assists in the National League last season.

“I went there and enjoyed my football,” said Little of his time at the Plainmoor Stadium.

“It was time for me to grow up and be in the real world. I started at Southampton and I had to try and fight my way back into the league after working my way all the way down. Not everyone can do it.

“I was playing with a lot of confidence last year. Injuries had set me back in the seasons before, so last season was kind of the first time I had stayed fit and had a good 30-plus games under my belt.”

Wimbledon are three points off the play-offs as they host promotion-hopefuls Carlisle at Plough Lane tomorrow.

“We’re in a good position now,” said Little. “There are 18 or so games left, and we’re three points off the top seven. This group has got enough to achieve that. I want to bring as much as I can to the team to make it as best as it can be. The target is play-offs.”

PICTURES: LUCY DIXON AND PA