AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley admitted his front pairing of Tom Elliott and Adebayo Akinfenwa could strike fear into the League Two defences next term.

Former England U18 striker Elliott agreed a deal to switch to the Dons this week after Ardley had spent more than a month wooing him.

The 23-year-old, who starred in Cambridge United's two FA Cup clashes with Manchester United last term, is joined at the club by fellow new boy Karleigh Osborne, who joins on a season-long loan from Bristol City.

The former Brentford defender is well known as a centre back, but was deployed in midfielder on occasions by the League One champions.

Ardley confident in the success of his latest acquisition

But it is the prospect of pairing Akinfenwa with Elliott that is getting Ardley's juices flowing.

“I met with Tom probably over a month ago now and sold the deal to him," he said. 

"He went away and there was a lot of interest from other clubs, to the point where he had an offer from a League One club and I thought we’d lose him, but we’ve managed to seal the deal."

He added: “He’s been played as a target man and he’s better at playing with a target man in my opinion.

"He’s got pace, he’s got power and already in training I’ve seen his ability to get in behind people and frighten the life out of them.

"With him and Bayo (Akinfenwa) we’ll certainly have that ability to attack crosses, we’ll have the pace and the power to run in behind. 

"He’s 24 and at a great age for a striker and his record is steadily improving as he has got older.

“With Bayo up there as well, I certainly wouldn’t want to mark the pair of them."

Osborne made a name for himself at Griffin Park before a move to Millwall went sour ahead of his switch to the west Country.

And Ardley revealed landing his signature was no easy feat either.

"We’ve signed Karleigh on a season-long loan, with no breaks, he’s ours for the season until May 31," he added.

“I’d like to thank Bristol City and Steve Cotterill in particular who have been great through the whole process.

We’ve got a player who has played a lot of League One games and played Championship football.

"He’s strong, athletic and powerful and he ticks the criteria that we tried to set at the start of the summer and we’ve been patient to land.”