AFC Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley has filled the void left by Michael Smith with the loan signing of Middlesbrough striker Charlie Wyke.
Smith smashed 10 goals in 25 games during his five-month spell at Kingsmeadow, but has returned to parent club Charlton Athletic following the completion of the deal.
However, Ardley has plugged the gap with 21-year-old Wyke, who gained League One experience with Hartlepool United last campaign.
Ardley told Dons Player: “We looked at Charlie last season and we have monitored him since then. He comes highly recommended from contacts that we’ve got in the north and we’ve watched Charlie play this season for the Under-21s.
“Middlesbrough have been very good with us in this deal because it requires hardly any financial outlay. Charlie is an out-and-out striker and we can certainly have a look at him during January.”
Wyke is expected to go straight into the Wimbledon squad for tomorrow’s League Two clash at Wycombe Wanderers.
