Monday 29 October 2012 16:33, UK
Wimbledon midfielder Curtis Osano has revealed his debt to former manager Terry Brown for kick-starting his career.
The 25-year-old was a graduate of Reading's youth academy, where he played under Brendan Rogers, but was released in 2008 and found himself without a club. "I had to grab a job to pay the bills so I took a job working at a recycling centre," Osano told the Dons' official website. "I used to come back from work stinking of all kinds of stuff from the rubbish tip, but I had to make ends meet." A promising, but ultimately unsuccessful, trial at Brighton restored Osano's confidence and he soon landed a six-month deal with Blue Square Bet Premier side Luton - a spell that ended in play-off final heartbreak but brought him to the attention of then Dons' boss Brown. Osano said: "He had watched the play-off final and said that a player who could get up and down the right was just what he wanted. I owe Terry a hell of a lot and I will always be grateful to him." An ankle injury has restricted Osano to just four appearances so far this season, but the midfielder said he was looking forward to life under new Dons boss Neal Ardley.
