Former Chelsea midfielder backed to kick on after vital last-minute goal for Dons

Mark Robinson expects Luke McCormick to push on after the AFC Wimbledon midfielder scored a last-minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Burton Albion last weekend.

McCormick, who joined in the summer on a free transfer from reigning European champions Chelsea, was Robinson’s first signing of the transfer window, with the 22-year-old midfielder shining last season on loan at Bristol Rovers in spite of their relegation to League Two.

In 13 appearances in all competitions, McCormick has contributed three goals and three assists so far.

Robinson told the South London Press: “There is an adaptation with all players – all players have their settling in period due to various reasons.

“There was high expectancy with Luke, and rightly so because he is an excellent player. He is dealing with that, and I have had various chats with him just to relax him.

“As well as his goal on Saturday, it was an excellent performance. I did say to him that even though his performances probably haven’t been where he knows they can be, he has still got three goals and three assists. If he carries that on for the rest of the season, that’s 12 goals and 12 assists, which would put him right up there with any midfielder in League One.

“Sometimes people can feel it’s not been the start they would hope for, but it’s still been a real positive start. I know he will kick on even more.”

Loan duo Corie Andrews and Aaron Cosgrave have been flourishing in the National League this season, with Andrews, 24, scoring five goals in nine appearances at Aldershot Town and Cosgrave, 22, plundering three for Dover Athletic.

While Andrews’ loan is scheduled to end in January and Cosgrave, who is on a season-long loan, can’t be recalled until the new year, Robinson has stated that he wants to avoid recalling the loanees as he believes playing regular football is the best course of action for their development.

“They can’t come back until January anyway. But where possible, I want to avoid calling back these players on loan because they’re out there, so hopefully, they can develop for the future,” said Robinson.

“I really want to avoid calling anyone back unless I thought they would go straight in regularly to the first team. Because you call them back, and they sit on the bench, and we’re back to the same sort of problems we had before I got the job, where you have got these young players who aren’t playing regular football. They’re all doing well at the moment.”