Wimbledon boss confident new strike pairing can quickly gel

BY EDMUND BRACK
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk

AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson is confident that new signing Josh Kelly can swiftly strike up a potent partnership with fellow striker Omar Bugiel.

Bugiel and Ali Al-Hamadi, sold to Ipswich in the January window, formed an effective duo under Jackson in this campaign.

Iraqi striker Al-Hamadi was sold to the Championship high-flyers for a record fee in the club’s phoenix era after picking up 19 League Two goal contributions, with Bugiel starting 20 times with the 21-year-old in the first half of the season.

Kelly joined the Dons on deadline day from Solihull Moors – the 25-year-old’s first stint in the Football League – and started alongside Bugiel in the goalless draw at Bradford last Saturday.

“He’s one we have been looking at for a while – even back in the summer,” Jackson told the South London Press. “When it became more obvious that we might lose Ali, we started ramping that interest up by making Solihull aware.

“When we knew Ali was going, he became our number one target. I was really pleased because we didn’t have loads of time – we found out with four days to go in the window that Ali was leaving.

“We looked at Josh’s attributes and we think that he fits in with the style of play that we have here. With his movement and the runs that he makes, we’re a team that creates chances, so he will get opportunities.

“He’s a natural finisher too and Omar is a big part of providing all of that. Omar is an intelligent enough player to adapt his game to those around him – sometimes he’s too unselfish in that regard – but they will strike up a good partnership along with Josh Davison too.”

The Dons bolstered their defence options over the January window by signing Crystal Palace defender Kofi Balmer on loan.

Northern Irishman Balmer spent the first half of the season on loan at League One side Port Vale.

The 23-year-old made his first start in the goalless draw at Valley Parade, featuring alongside Lee Brown – a left-back by trade – with Joe Lewis and Ryan Johnson both sidelined due to injury.

He has more than 100 appearances at senior level to his name after coming through at Ballymena as a teenager before moving to Larne.

Balmer joined fellow Crystal Palace youngster John-Kymani Gordon at the Dons this January. The winger had his League One loan at Cambridge cut short.

“Kofi was excellent,” said Jackson. “It was a real defender’s game. One of those where you had to defend your box, make tackles and win your headers. He did all of that really well.

“Kofi has had that senior experience in Ireland and League One level. John-Kymani has had a promotion at the level and played in League One.

“I like the blend with both of them that they’re young and hungry – having a point to prove – but they also have that league experience.”

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