‘We can get the best out of him’ – Dons boss Johnnie Jackson backs Matty Stevens to rediscover Forest Green promotion goalscoring form

BY EDMUND BRACK

AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson has backed summer signing Matty Stevens to rediscover his goalscoring form that helped Forest Green win promotion from League Two in 2022.

Stevens, who netted 23 goals in 37 games for Rob Edwards’ side, missed out on the League Two Golden Boot in the 2021-22 season after suffering an ACL injury that made him miss the last eight outings of the campaign.

Ex-Barnet striker Stevens missed out to then-Newport forward Dom Telford after he recorded 25 goals in the entire season.

The now 26-year-old Stevens has joined the Dons on a free transfer, penning a two-year deal at Plough Lane, after leaving Forest Green following their relegation to the National League. 

“He knows what this league looks like,” Jackson told the South London Press.

“He has scored the goals – he scored a real hatful the year Forest Green went up.

“He hasn’t quite hit those heights since.

“The following season was a bit disrupted by injury but he still managed to score a decent amount of goals in a team that struggled.

“I feel as though the boy has goals in him and he knows where the net is.”

Stevens scored nine goals for Forest Green last season as they finished 24th in League Two and suffered back-to-back relegations.

He will join Josh Kelly and Omar Bugiel in bolstering Jackson’s striker options ahead of their third consecutive season in the fourth tier.

Jackson added: “If the team is set up to his strengths, which it will be, we can get the best out of him.

“I have helped a lot of players in the last few seasons add goals. They all have attributes, but they added goals to their games too. 

“Matty has goals in his game and I want to help him get more. 

“The sort of numbers that we want and need to get out of the league are the numbers that he hit that season with Forest Green.

“I don’t see why, in the right team, why he can’t do that again.”

The Dons have added free agent Myles Hippolyte after he left Stockport.

Jackson’s side also swooped to sign midfielder Callum Maycock, 26, from National League side Solihull Moors on a free transfer.

The former Charlton boss switched formation multiple times last season as he battled against injuries and loanees returning to their parent clubs throughout the campaign.
“We want to be flexible in what we’re doing,” he said.

“In a 46-game season, you have to come up with more than one way of playing, which we had to do last season.

“We ended up playing five or six different variations last season. To do that, you need versatile players.

“They’re all capable of doing something a little bit different.

“Callum is a central midfield player but he can play deeper, which he did at times for Solihull.

“He can handle the ball and help you build, but can also get on into the box and get goals.

“He has a bit of verity to his game.”