AFC Wimbledon boss provides injury update on Harry Pell and Jack Currie

AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson has explained why Jack Currie and Harry Pell both missed Tuesday evening’s 3-2 defeat at home to Stevenage.

The Dons were unable to fill their bench at Plough Lane against Steve Evans’ side, with Jackson only able to name four outfield players and back-up keeper Nathan Broome on the bench.

Ali Al-Hamadi’s brace was cancelled out by two set-piece goals and a counterattack from automatic promotion-hopefuls Stevenage.

Wimbledon have only picked up one win in League Two since the turn of the year.

“Harry came off at Gillingham with a calf injury,” explained Jackson.

“He was unavailable. Jack got a knock at Gillingham as well, which he didn’t recover from.

“Jack, hopefully, will be available for the weekend. That will be a late call. Pelly will take a little bit longer.

“We will be quite thin on the ground.”

The Dons take on Mansfield on Saturday, with Jackson’s side looking to pick up their first win in League Two since the 1-0 victory against Stockport on January 28.

“Brown went down tonight – he’s had to come off early. Coming off and feeling your hamstring, it’s unlikely you’re going to play in three days.

“It’s where we at – that’s football.

“I was leaving four senior lads out of the squad about two or three weeks ago, now I can’t fill my bench.

“We’re having to cope with that. It’s had a detrimental effect on the pitch, there is no getting away from that.” 

Youngsters Quaine Bartley, Isaac Ogundere and Alfie Bendle, who have all played in League Two this season under the former Charlton boss, are all currently out on loan.

“It’s something we will look at,” said Jackson, when asked whether he would have to dip into the academy to fill his bench during this injury crisis.

“We have got guys out on loan as well, but a lot of them are tied into deals that you can’t recall.

“I had a senior squad of 22 that you would consider your bulk going forward, but that could be down to 14 or 15 by the weekend.

“It’s difficult. We made a point when the window shut of saying that we have got loads of games between now and the end of the season, and everybody needs to be ready.

“It’s certainly turned out that way.”