Wimbledon hitman fit to face Portsmouth

Wednesday, August 8, 2012
1:54 PM

Byron Harrison will play in the Dons’ final friendly game

AFC Wimbledon boss Terry Brown is planning to name his strongest side in their final pre-season game at home to Portsmouth tonight, with striker Byron Harrison pronounced fit to play.

The Dons’ record signing has not featured in the summer build-up since injuring his ankle in the 0-0 draw with Eastbourne Borough last month, but his recovery allows the manager to get some important minutes into him ahead the campaign curtain-raiser against his former side Stevenage in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday.

However Brown will still be without Louis Harris and Curtis Osano and Rashid Yussuff.

Pompey’s future remains in the balance with liquidation a possibility for the npower League One club. Friday is the D-day for that decision, but while off the field the club is in turmoil, on it they have beaten Aldershot and Premier League Bolton Wanderers in recent friendlies. That was despite manager Michael Appleton fielding 13 trialists, including former Dons winger Kieran Djilali.

“We have had a difficult pre-season and the priority has to be defensively as we have conceded too many goals,” Brown told the club’s official website.

“I will be looking to pick the strongest team available. It will be a tough match for us as Portsmouth have still been able to get good players in and they have shown what they can do in pre-season.”