NEWS CHANNEL
Published: 28/07/2010 12:41 -
Updated: 28/07/2010 12:43
AARON Wilbraham praised MK Dons’ new fitness coach as he returned from
injury in their 3-1 friendly win at Aylesbury on Friday night.
The striker missed out on the Dons’ opening three games of the pre-season campaign after picking up a knock in his back during the training camp at St Andrews at the start of the month.
But having successfully completed 35 minutes of match time at Aylesbury, where goals from Sam Baldock (2) and Jabo Ibehre sealed a win, with no side affects Wilbraham is back in the mix for a place in the first team.
And he says the return of fitness and conditioning guru Damien Doyle has had a positive impact on the player.
The 30-year-old told MK NEWS: “It’s been frustrating to miss 10 days training, it’s not much, but it feels like longer because the boys have been doing double sessions and I’ve been itching to get back.
“Damo’s really good, he’s really positive with all the players. We’ve taken to him straight away, his beliefs are infectious and everyone wants to do what he says.
“A lot of his work is with the ball so it’s game related, sometimes the lads don’t realise how hard they are working with the ball because they’re just enjoying it.”
Wilbraham dropped into midfield against the Southern League opposition, and says he is more than happy to play there during the season if Karl Robinson calls upon him to do so.
He said: “The gaffer spoke to me at the end and said it gives us more options, possibly away from home, if I drop into midfield.
“I’ve done it before but obviously I’m a striker and that’s where I want to play, but I like playing anywhere, and I think I’ve played in most positions for the team.”
On Saturday Dons Academy coach Mike Dove took a young side to Newport Pagnell, where they lost 4-1.
There was a surprise inclusion of Jemal Johnson, whose trial at MLS side DC United had been delayed, while Igor Coronado, Charlie Collins and Dan Powell were given another run out.
The striker missed out on the Dons’ opening three games of the pre-season campaign after picking up a knock in his back during the training camp at St Andrews at the start of the month.
But having successfully completed 35 minutes of match time at Aylesbury, where goals from Sam Baldock (2) and Jabo Ibehre sealed a win, with no side affects Wilbraham is back in the mix for a place in the first team.
And he says the return of fitness and conditioning guru Damien Doyle has had a positive impact on the player.
The 30-year-old told MK NEWS: “It’s been frustrating to miss 10 days training, it’s not much, but it feels like longer because the boys have been doing double sessions and I’ve been itching to get back.
“Damo’s really good, he’s really positive with all the players. We’ve taken to him straight away, his beliefs are infectious and everyone wants to do what he says.
“A lot of his work is with the ball so it’s game related, sometimes the lads don’t realise how hard they are working with the ball because they’re just enjoying it.”
Wilbraham dropped into midfield against the Southern League opposition, and says he is more than happy to play there during the season if Karl Robinson calls upon him to do so.
He said: “The gaffer spoke to me at the end and said it gives us more options, possibly away from home, if I drop into midfield.
“I’ve done it before but obviously I’m a striker and that’s where I want to play, but I like playing anywhere, and I think I’ve played in most positions for the team.”
On Saturday Dons Academy coach Mike Dove took a young side to Newport Pagnell, where they lost 4-1.
There was a surprise inclusion of Jemal Johnson, whose trial at MLS side DC United had been delayed, while Igor Coronado, Charlie Collins and Dan Powell were given another run out.
