Dons boss provides positive injury update on Brentford loanee Young-Coombes

Johnnie Jackson is hoping that Brentford loanee Nathan Young Coombes will return to AFC Wimbledon within a fortnight.

Young-Coombes had returned to his Premier League parent club for treatment after picking up a knee injury in the 2-0 loss at home to Northampton on September 13.

The 19-year-old forward, who signed a season-long loan with the Dons in the summer, recorded five goal contributions in his opening 10 games.

“Nathan is doing his rehab with Brentford and it’s going really well. We hope to have him back with us in around a fortnight,” Jackson told the South London Press.

“Brentford have got the final say on that. They want to make sure that he has ticked off all the boxes as far as his rehab is concerned. 

“That’s fair enough. He’s their player, and he’s had a serious knee injury, so they want to make sure that’s right going forward.

“As soon as he’s ready and they feel he’s strong enough to rejoin the action, he will be back with us.”

Will Nightingale has also been missing since he picked up a knee injury in the 2-2 draw at Bradford City on September 24.

“Will is quite a bit off still,” explained Jackson.

“He’s still in a knee brace this week. The injury that he has got is quite significant, so he will be missing for a while still.”

Lee Brown, who had been acting as a centre-back under Jackson following the injuries to Alex Pearce and Nightingale, was forced off in the first half against Crewe last week with a hamstring injury. 

He has missed the previous two outings – the 3-2 win against Harrogate Town in League Two and the 1-1 EFL Trophy draw with Portsmouth.

“Browny is probably looking at a few weeks out as well,” said the Dons boss.

“He knew it was a hamstring injury straight away. We had it scanned and it’s looking like a few weeks lay off for him.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD