Glyn Hodges highlights concern as AFC Wimbledon emerge from lockdown to resume League One campaign

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Glyn Hodges admits he is concerned about his AFC Wimbledon side being plunged back into a heavy fixture schedule after the whole squad had to self-isolate due to positive Covid-19 cases.

The League One side resume action at Rochdale tomorrow before heading to Gillingham and Barrow on Tuesday and Thursday respectively.

If they win the latter – an FA Cup first round tie – they are at home to Crawley in the next stage of the competition next weekend.

They are then due to host Peterborough the following midweek and Bristol Rovers on December 5.

“Everyone has been in lockdown for two weeks and then we come back and have potentially got five games in 11 days,” said Hodges. “There is a concern after doing nothing at all to then go into the pressures and demands of that schedule.

“The concerns are we don’t know how people are going to react – not in relation to the virus, but the risk of soft tissue injuries. It’s a bit of a step into the unknown.

“Leyton Orient were the first club to deal with it and Accrington have had cases. Some have got three or four – but we had the whole club shutdown, that’s the difference.

“We’ve got a tough schedule ahead but it had been a tough schedule from day one. The FA Cup on the Thursday throws a spanner in the works but it is a competition that means a lot to our club.

“We’ll need to shuffle the pack accordingly to make sure we’re in a good place. Only time will tell if we have the depth – some people will be affected a bit more than others. I’m hoping we’ve got enough strength in depth but we’ll know by the end of next week.”