Karleigh Osborne was not very old when AFC Wimbledon emerged from the mess created by an FA Commission in 2002.

However, the 27-year-old is playing an integral part of another familiar Dons push up the football pyramid – and loving every minute of it.

The Dons forged their way through the outer reaches of the non-League levels to smash into the Football League in 2011.

Now, in their fifth season in League Two, and on the back of four games unbeaten, the Dons are rapping on the door of the play-offs.

They host Wycombe Wanderers tomorrow and Osborne is confident of getting a result.

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Osborne said: “The Portsmouth game [0-0] was pretty even, and there were not a load of chances for either team, but we showed some good football and showed that we want to do good things in the league this year.

“It’s vitally important that we get something from the two home games coming up, but every game we play we want to win, simple as that.

Surrey Comet:

Committed: Karleigh Osborne in action during the 1-1 draw at Carlisle United earlier this season  Picture: David Hollins

“Wycombe are going to be a tough team, they will come to us, try to play football and make the game hard.

“But at the end of the day we’re good enough to beat them.”

Osborne joined the Dons in the summer having struggled to break into the first team at Bristol City. But now he is enjoying a run in the Dons team, and is forming a blossoming partnership with central defender Paul Robinson.

Osborne said: “I am really enjoying being a Wimbledon player, there’s a good bunch of lads here from the players to the management to the back-room staff.

“I was young when Wimbledon folded, and they’ve had to come up the leagues, but it is a great club, going in the right direction and I am glad to be part of that.”