‘It’s tricky’ – AFC Wimbledon boss Jackson on a major selection dilemma he faces every week

Johnnie Jackson has described the challenge of fitting Josh Davison, Ayoub Assal and Nathan Young-Coombes into the same AFC Wimbledon side as one of the “big decisions” he has to make every week.

The trio have only all started one game together – the 5-2 away defeat to Mansfield Town – in League Two this season.

Assal, 20, has been used as a centre-forward and as an attacking midfielder in the 3-4-1-2 system. The England U20 trainee has recorded one assist this season.

Brentford loanee Young-Coombes has picked up five goal contributions – three goals and two assists – in seven League Two outings.

Davison, who joined from Charlton in the summer for a club-record fee and bagged two goals so far in the league, is the only one of the three to have started every game in the fourth tier this season under Jackson.

“It can be tricky – they all want to play and in similar positions,” Jackson told the South London Press of the challenge of naming all three in the starting line up.

“We have tried it where Assal is a number 10 and playing off the two up top, but it’s just about trying to find that balance of having that attacking talent on the pitch and also being solid defensively.

“It’s part of my job to try and get those players in the team, but at the same time, keeping the team in what I feel is a solid shape.

“It’s one of the big decisions that I have to make every week.

“They’re all talented players, and they will give you a lot in that final third – they all have a lot of energy about them and the ability to go and press.

“It’s nice because if I didn’t have those three, I would be moaning about it. I’m not going to moan about the thought of having to pick two of the three or the thought of fitting all three into the team.

“It’s a good headache to have.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD