ACE PARRETT HUNGRY TO FLY HIGH AT THE DONS...
DEAN PARRETT is desperate to be AFC Wimbledon’s midfield imagination following the departure of Jake Reeves.
Dons fans are concerned about the club’s lack of creativity after Bradford City activated the midfielder’s release clause last month and they lost the intelligent 24-yearold to their League One rivals.
Reeves’ wizardry will be missed but Parrett is the next best thing and the energetic attacker, when he plays, is the club’s main source of supply.
But since arriving at Kingsmeadow from Stevenage a year ago, the 25-year-old hasn’t been a regular starter.
With Reeves gone, supporters expected him to fill the void but he only made the bench against Scunthorpe on the first day of the season.
Parrett did start on Tuesday night against Brentford in the Carabao Cup first round and hopes he has done enough to become a regular selection.
“It’s all about staying positive and trying to become an every-week player,” said the former Tottenham youth player.
“I would have loved to have played with Jake every week, but he’s gone now.
“I hope I can be the spark this season, I hope I can play as many back-toback games as possible.
“It’s down to the gaffer who plays, he picks the team, but I’ve got to try and keep working hard and when I am picked, be ready.
“I need to be playing well to cement a place, I know that.
“I had one small injury issue last year but apart from that I was fit.
“It slowed me down quite a bit but I want to play as much as I possibly can. I’ve always been a 30plus game a season player, and I think I still can be here.
“I’d love to play every week but I’ve got to make the most of the chances when they come along.
“There’s a lot of talent in our midfield, the gaffer has brought in some good players and there are a few that are already here.
“It’s healthy, and it means you have to keep raising your game week after week. Everyone is fighting.”
Manager Neal Ardley was critical of the Carabao Cup format after the 3-1 defeat to Brentford and says first round ties should go straight to penalties.
The extra half-hour wasn’t what the boss wanted days after the start of the new season and the Dons boss wants the competition to become more manager-friendly next season.
Ardley said: “I’ve got a bugbear with this competition going to extra-time in the first week of the season.
“None of my players want extra-time. Round one should go straight to penalties.
“It’s not sour grapes. Brentford were just too good for us.”
Parrett agreed, adding: “Brentford are a good side but we had good chances, we gave a good account of ourselves and on another day we could have won it inside 90 minutes.”