Thursday 9 August 2012 14:29, UK
AFC Wimbledon defender Pim Balkestein expects to be fit for the first game of the season after suffering a pre-season injury.
The Dutch centre-half, signed on a permanent deal from Brentford this summer after a successful loan stint last term, limped off with an ankle injury during Wednesday's night's 2-0 friendly defeat to Portsmouth. But Balkestein is confident he will be available when the Dons kick off the new campaign against Stevenage in the Capital One Cup next week. "I had a bit of a stiff ankle," he told London24. "It's just from the hard work at the training ground. I'm getting better. "Pre-season is about getting fit and to get your fitness up. Your body has to get used to playing games again after two to three months off."
