AFC Wimbledon

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Rockingham Road

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Kettering v AFC Wimbledon

Kettering boss Lee Harper is pondering making a number of changes for the visit of high-flying AFC Wimbledon to Rockingham Road on Saturday afternoon.

Harper has admitted that his side needs a shake-up following a disappointing start to the new campaign.

Brett Solkhon could be handed a starting berth after impressing as a substitute in their last three league encounters.

Harper told Northants ET: "Brett was very close to starting on Monday.

"His attitude has been first class and he now looks like the Brett who was here before. That is because he has adjusted back to full-time training.

"He came on against Rushden, had a free header and should have scored but it shows he still gets into the right areas.

"He's got a great chance of being involved in the next game and I can tell you he wasn't far away from starting on Monday.

"We have a good, strong squad and that shows when you can bring a Marcus Kelly or an Iyseden Christie off the bench and someone like Ian Roper can't even get on the bench.

"We have that competition for places and the players know if they don't do it, they don't play. So there may have to be some changes."

Dons manager Terry Brown will have to make do without the services of defender Brett Johnson, who is on the treatment table with a knee injury.

Brown told the club's official website: "Looking forward to Saturday's game against Kettering, it is always a difficult place to go. We have good memories from last year which will hopefully see us go into the game in a positive frame of mind.

"This week's training has been disrupted somewhat by several experienced players suffering illness or knocks.

"We will have a roll call tomorrow morning prior to departure and however that pans out, we will definitely be going into the game with an energetic and robust young side.

"Definitely not available tomorrow will be Mark Nwokeji, who hopes to turn out for the reserves on Monday night at Beaconsfield, and Brett Johnson who is recovering from a medial ligament injury and should hopefully be fit and available for training prior to the Luton game.

"The results of his scan proved positive in that for once a knee injury hasn't turned out to be a cruciate ligament problem but according to Mike Rayner it will take another couple of weeks before he is back to full fitness."