AFC Wimbledon have bounced back strongly following a sub-par start to the season and will enter next month’s January transfer window with genuine belief a promotion push is possible.
Since the dramatic comeback win over Harrogate, Johnnie Jackson’s side are unbeaten in eight league games with five consecutive clean sheets and sit just three points off the Play-Off places.
A major factor of Wimbledon’s resurgence has been their ability to maintain a healthy squad after being hammered with injuries in the early part of the campaign which forced Jackson to continually tweak starting personnel and formation.
Although the starting XI almost picks itself heading into the hectic festive period, the squad remains thin in certain areas with Jackson, alongside recently-appointed Head of Football operations Craig Cope, aiming to ensure no further injury crises threaten their current momentum.
Jackson has confirmed the club have already identified targets, saying: “I’m not going to talk about specific positions but obviously we’re constantly looking and we’re in constant dialogue with Jamie Johnson, our head of recruitment.
“There are areas where we feel we could strengthen, but it will have to be the right business for the football club and then see if we can make it happen.”
The Dons boss will be hoping to replicate the success of the summer window where striker Josh Davison and midfielder Harry Pell were brought in alongside veteran Welsh international Chris Gunter to all become integral parts of the squad in one way or another.
The club also used the loan system well with Brentford midfielder Paris Maghoma and Bristol City defender Ryley Towler playing important roles so far this term – the latter’s form in particular making him one of the standout defenders in League Two.
Making permanent signings mid-way through the season is always tricky with last January’s recruit, Lee Brown, struggling with injuries this season and facing a fight with in-form youngster Jack Currie for the left-back slot.
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And with young goalkeeper Nathan Broome also failing to dislodge Nik Tzanev as first-choice, expect Wimbledon to utilise the loan market as opposed to making too many permanent signings.
Of course, the biggest domino in this transfer window could be whether Wimbledon can keep hold of star player and League Two Young Player of the Month for November, Ayoub Assal.
With seven goals in his last 12 appearances, his form will have likely turned a few heads and, should they receive a handsome fee for the 20-year-old, they would need to quickly find a replacement, as left midfield is one area where there is a lack of depth.
Another area looking light is upfront because, despite Davison’s arrival from Charlton in the summer, Wimbledon currently have just two first-team strikers available due to the absence of Brentford loanee Nathan Young-Coombes through injury since mid-September.
And, with fellow loanee Kyle Hudlin potentially returning to parent club Huddersfield next month, Wimbledon will be incredibly short of cover up front.
The same can be said of the wide positions – Young-Coombes has the flexibility to play wide right, but he and in-form Ethan Chislett are the only options out there for Jackson so a versatile player that can play both right and left-side would provide the perfect option for the Dons’ promotion push.
Similarly, while the midfield three of Maghoma, Alex Woodyard and Pell have most often worked well together, there are times in which the trio lack a creative spark and a quality box-to-box midfielder could prove an astute acquisition.
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George Marsh is one alternative but he, along with Woodyard, have had their injury problems while 17-year-old Alfie Bendle has been tipped to make his first-team breakthrough but has so far had to remain patient.
At the other end, the unexpected emergence of Huseyin Biler should solve any potential right-back problem, providing competition for a 33-year-old Gunter, fresh from his World Cup adventure with the Wales squad.
With a couple of shrewd additions to provide competition and cover alongside a mix of youth and experience, there is no reason why Wimbledon don’t have the quality to make a concerted Play-Off push.