Town youngster nets first Dons goal during loan spell that hasn't been 'ideal'

Luton midfielder Zack Nelson was thrilled to open his account for AFC Wimbledon during their 4-1 victory over Blackpool on Wednesday night after a loan spell that he admitted hasn’t been ‘ideal’ for him on a personal basis so far.

The 20-year-old moved to Plough Lane in the January transfer window, making his debut in the 1-1 draw at Rotherham United, one of eight substitute appearances he has made for the Dons in the league. The Town academy graduate has been handed just one start so far during his time in south-west London, that in a 1-0 victory over Port Vale in February, but has totalled a mere 45 minutes of first team action in his next six outings since.

However, after replacing Myles Hippolyte just 60 seconds earlier in midweek, Nelson collected a misplaced pass and rounded keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell, before slotting into the empty net to add a third against a visiting team containing Town full back Reuell Walters, the youngster playing his seventh game since moving to Bloomfield Road on loan himself.

Discussing his goal and time with AFC Wimbledon so far, then speaking to the club’s official website, he said: “We’re pretty happy after the win. We've had a good run of form recently, so we’re just looking to build on that with each game and get as many points as we can and see where we can finish on the table.

“I thought, when I’d come on, just try and bring some energy and intensity. (I was) looking to jump on the press and luckily the ball came to me, then I took it in my stride and I was just happy to put it in the back of the net. It's been good since I came here, a bit of a breath of fresh air for me. It's a new challenge. I've really enjoyed it so far, being part of the team, but it's obviously not been ideal for me.

"Obviously, I want to play every game. I'm hungry all the time, but it's been really good for the lads, keeping the standards high. Players like me on the bench just need to wait for our time and like today, just happy I could take my opportunity. All the players in that sort of position (midfield) are training at a high level. There’s a lot of competition for places, but at the end of the day, that's what makes each one of us better really, pushing each other day in and day out.”

Revealing just what he has been told as he bids to get more time on the field by manager Johnnie Jackson, Nelson continued: “The message in training is just keep doing what I'm doing and be patient and wait for my opportunity like today and then just bring my energy and enthusiasm every time I step on the pitch.

"That's just the main thing really, staying ready at all times because you never know when your opportunity is going to come. We've got really good talent in the squad. If one person has to drop out, then the next person to come in, they're ready to go straight in. Everyone's fighting for the badge, fighting for each other. We all want to do well and just keep doing that every game and we'll see how far we can get.”

Meanwhile, Jackson himself acknowledged it has been difficult for Nelson during his time away from Kenilworth Road, adding: “It’s really tough for him because he's desperate to play football. He's such a diamond of a lad and he's come in and he's bought into everything that we want to do here. He's been frustrated that he's not playing, he's had to be patient, but what he does is he stays ready, trains well every day. He goes and gets his moment and the composure that he showed as well as it was great to win the ball back and then obviously you need to finish as well.”

Nelson’s goal made it a fine midweek for Luton’s senior players who are out on loan, as striker Jerry Yates netted for the third successive match as Sheffield Wednesday drew 1-1 with Watford in the Championship, while Jacob Brown got his first first Portsmouth goal in a 2-1 defeat against Swansea City. Lasse Nordas, meanwhile, notched his first assist for Heerenveen as the European chasers in the Eredivisie beat a struggling Excelsior team 2-1.