‘Over the moon’ – January signing delighted at impressive scoring start for Dons

BY EDMUND BRACK
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk

January transfer window signing Ali Al-Hamadi is over the moon with his start to life at AFC Wimbledon.

The Dons signed the 21-year-old forward midway through the last transfer window after Ayoub Assal was sold to Al-Wakrah and Nathan Young-Coombes and Kyle Hudlin had their loan spells cut short by Brentford and Huddersfield Town respectively.

Al-Hamadi, who signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at Plough Lane, has seamlessly adapted to life in League Two with the Dons.

The Toxteth-raised striker has featured nine times under Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson and bagged five in his last four appearances.

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t over the moon with the start I have had,” Al-Hamadi told the South London Press.

“Sometimes it’s hard. During my time at Wycombe I was at a point in my career where I just needed to play first-team football.

“I’m really grateful to the gaffer for putting me straight in from the off and giving me that opportunity. It’s just down to you as a player then to take that chance.

“Football can change quickly. Things are going well at the minute and hopefully that continues, but I could not score in the next game or for the next two or three.

“I’m someone who really is invested in what I’m doing. I didn’t get the chance to show that too much at Wycombe, as it was staggered minutes and I was unable to get a run of games in, but I always stayed ready because you never know when you’re going to be needed.

“I keep forgetting that this is my first real taste of league experience. It’s a physical league. People will come over the top of you, leave one in or try and stamp on you or pinch you – things like that I never experienced at youth football. I was speaking to my family the other day and told them that I have hit the ground running with the goals, but there is still so much for me to learn.”

Despite the forward finding a hot streak in front of goal, Wimbledon are without a win in their last five outings in League Two and have slipped from play-off outsiders to a team already looking to plan for next season.

Al-Hamadi, who picked his opening goal at Gillingham as his favourite so far in a Wimbledon shirt, added: “From a personal point of view, it’s been good but it’s been disappointing as well, because not one of those games (that he has scored in) have we actually won a game of football.

“When it clicks a bit more with the team, and we get a few more results, it will probably feel a bit better.

“Now it’s all about keeping my head down until the end of the season and making the most of it.”

Al-Hamadi’s arrival has seen Dons boss Jackson change formation and play the Iraqi international alongside club-record signing Josh Davison in a front two.

Former Charlton and Swindon striker Davison has gone 10 games without a goal contribution but brings a lot more to the side than just putting the ball in the back of the net.

“Josh is unbelievable,” said Al-Hamadi.“I don’t want to take away from what he has done this season – he has been brilliant.

“He would say himself that he wants to score a few more goals in recent games, which as a striker, you always want to. But the job he does for the team – the work rate and pressing – is a massive help.

“Playing up top together means we can share the workload. If I’m tired, all I need to do is give him a look and he will do my running, or vice versa.

“We complement each other well, but we have got a bit of work to do. Looking at forward partnerships who assist each other, we can add that to our game the more we play together. He has been creating the chances, but once one goes in, a few more will follow for him. He’s the perfect strike partner.

“He gives me the license and does the dirty work – winning the flick-ons and headers. I enjoy playing with him and hopefully we can keep building on our partnership and take it to new levels, whether that is this season or next year.”

Al-Hamadi’s former Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth, who has since left Adams Park to join Championship strugglers QPR, was at the game against Stevenage last week to witness his former player bag a brace at Plough Lane.

“I didn’t know he was there, but someone mentioned it to me a few days after,” said Al-Hamadi. “He has been top class ever since I left. He does things that people will never know, like ringing me to check up to see how I have settled in. He texted after I scored my first goal, to congratulate me.

“Him and his assistant Richard Dobson are top, top guys in football. They deserve success.”

PICTURES: LUCY DIXON, KEITH GILLARD AND PA