George Moncur is hoping to celebrate his 25th birthday tomorrow with a win over former club AFC Wimbledon who he says will 'need the best of luck' against Barnsley.

The midfielder got his first taste of senior football with Wimbledon, when on loan from West Ham as a teenager in the second half of the 2011/12 season. He played 20 matches, all starts, and scored twice.

Moncur told the Chronicle: "I loved it there. I was only 18. It's a really nice club with great people around it. I wish them the best of luck because they are going to need it against us. If we play like we have done in the first two league games, we should have no problem."

Moncur has come off the bench in both League One fixtures so far, setting up a goal at Bradford on Saturday, then he scored a stunning volley on Tuesday as he started the 3-1 Carabao Cup loss at Blackpool. He appreciates that he is one of several senior central midfielders in the squad and is determined to fight for a place in the starting line-up.

"It's not all about me. The team at the moment is playing well and you have to do whatever you can to help even if that's only 15 minutes off the bench. I am lucky and blessed to be a footballer so I can't complain about anything. I will just keep enjoying it and work hard whatever happens. I don't want to be labelled an impact substitute but I know I can make an impact when I come on or if I start. I have just go to keep trying to get goals and assists and push us up the table."

Moncur struggled under previous boss Jose Morais but is enjoying working with replacement Daniel Stendel. He said: "We are more together as a team and every player knows their job on and off the ball whereas last year, at times, we didn't know what we were doing. The gaffer joins in very well with the boys, he's got a great rapport with us, he's a great manager and we're very happy to have him. If we keep pulling in the right direction, who knows what we could achieve?

"Automatic promotion isn't too much to aim for. You have to aim for what you want in life, we know we want that and we have got a great chance of getting it if we carry on playing the way we are."