Ali Al-Hamadi interview: AFC Wimbledon’s Iraqi Scouser making light work of League Two

Sky Sports exclusive: AFC Wimbledon striker Ali Al-Hamadi on leaving Wycombe to become the Dons’ No 9, his stunning year in front of goal, his Premier League ambitions, representing Iraq at the Asian Cup in January and more.

Take away the 13 games he played on loan at National League Bromley in 2021/22 and he had played a grand total of 13 times for Wycombe under Gareth Ainsworth, including just one start in Sky Bet League One.

Now, at the time, he was only 20 and at that point in a young player’s career, minutes are often limited. But Al-Hamadi was hungry and certain he was capable of mixing it with the best on a regular basis.

“I had to go in and have an honest conversation about my playing time, though I recognised there were very good strikers there at the time,” he explains in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports at the Dons’ training ground, just off the A3 in New Malden.

“There was Brandon Hanlan, Anis Mehmeti was ripping it up at the time and Sam Vokes had been there and done it at the highest level.

everything I could in training and games. That’s what happens in football sometimes; you just have to go and make a decision. I wanted to go and prove myself as the main main

“When I spoke to the gaffer [Johnnie Jackson] here, I saw the plan they had for me. I can’t say how grateful I am to him because I just needed a manager to really trust in me and my ability. The manager’s trust gives you the confidence and freedom to go and perform to the best of your ability.