Veteran striker David Connolly was reunited with his old mate Neal Ardley last week, having kept an eye on his buddy’s progress from afar.

Connolly signed for the Dons from Portsmouth, and made his second debut off the bench in last weekend’s 3-1 defeat to Carlisle United.

The 37-year-old played alongside Ardley at Wimbledon between 2001 and 2003, making 63 appearances and scoring 42 goals.

He has played for 12 different clubs, amassing 22 Premier League appearances, in a career spanning 20 year, but there is no doubt where his allegiances lie.

“This is my local team and the club is dear to my heart,” he said.

“It’s a great club and I’ve had some of the best times in my career here – it’s brilliant to be back.

“This is the ground I come to when I’m not playing. I’ve done a bit too much watching of football lately and not enough playing.”

After a spell on the south coast that offered little playing opportunities, Connolly is keen to push Dons on with his former team-mate.

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He said: “I played alongside Neal a long time ago and I’ve kept an eye on his managerial career – he’s a top young manager with a very good reputation.

“It’s always good to work with someone you know and it’s nice that Neal wants to work with me again. Hopefully I will repay him on the pitch.

“To see the club come from where it has is brilliant.

“I’ve been watching from afar, it’s been great and fingers crossed things keep progressing.”

The striker first joined Wimbledon on a free transfer as a 24-year-old in 2001 after a spell playing abroad in the Netherlands with Feyenoord and Excelsior.

His first season at the club turned out to be Ardley’s last of an 11-year stay at Plough Lane.

But the following year Connolly netted a staggering 24 times in just 28 games before being signed by West Ham for £285,000 in August 2003.

Ardley has already been impressed with the way Connolly it settling back into life back in Dons’ colours.

“Dave has looked sharp in training, he’s been breath-taking in his first two days and I saw glimpses in the Carlisle game of what he can do,” he said.