Jake Reeves bagged his first AFC Wimbledon goal on Saturday, but his shooting boots are not the reason boss Neal Ardley signed the midfielder.

The 21-year-old struck to put Dons ahead at Morecambe, but a Padraig Amond leveller ensured the sides would share the spoils.

Dons sit 13th in the League Two table, and face a tough assignment this weekend with the visit of promotion-chasing Newport County.

But when it comes to Reeves’ midfield prowess, Ardley is looking beyond Saturday.

He said: “I have not signed Jake believing he is going to get me goals.

“I have signed him because he is a very good player who can play above this level.

“I am trying to bring in players who will not only help us become a better team, but will eventually – if we can achieve what we’d like in the next couple of years – be a player who could go up to that next level with us and be comfortable.

“Jake is one of them.”

He added: “It would be great if he can chip in with his fair share of goals, because the team always needs them from different positions, but his quality on the ball is why we signed him.”

Despite their lofty league position, Newport, including former Dons defender Darren Jones, have lost their past three games.

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Back on his stomping: Darren Jones returns to the CRRS with Newport County this weekend

But Ardley is taking poor form with a pinch of salt.

He said: “We have a schedule of eight games in 30-odd days. We host sixth, first, fourth and second, and have tough away games too.

“Newport won’t be easy, they gave us a good hiding at their place and like always in this league, if you’re not on your game then you won’t get anything.”

Will Nightingale and Adedeji Oshilaja are likely to continue in central defence, although Mark Phillips and Alan Bennett are nearing a return to full fitness.

Another defender on the road to recovery is Jack Smith – the full back has been back in training and is likely to feature for the U21s next week.