---
title: "Brighton & Hove Albion: David Weir sends message to Max Sanders after AFC Wimbledon loan spell"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/brighton-david-weir-message-max-sanders-wimbledon-loan/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Brighton & Hove Albion"
published: "2020-08-11T15:20:25Z"
modified: "2020-08-11T15:20:25Z"
---

# Brighton & Hove Albion: David Weir sends message to Max Sanders after AFC Wimbledon loan spell

**[David Weir](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/everton/everton-fans-reflect-on-david-weirs-career-at-goodison-park/), Brighton’s pathway development manager, feels that Albion youngster Max Sanders will have benefitted greatly from his loan spell at AFC Wimbledon last season.**

The ex-Rangers and Scotland defender was reflecting on the respective loan spells of those players who had time away from the club in 2019/20 and, speaking to the [Seagulls’ official website](https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/1750885/loan-players-have-made-progress), he had a clear message for the 21-year-old midfielder.

When talking about Sanders, Weir said: “It was his first loan and he went to a team that were in a bit of a relegation fight, so there is a lot of emphasis on getting points from each game which took Max a little while to adapt to. But after that period of adaptation, he got himself into the team and finished the season really strongly.

“It was a really beneficial loan for him and I think he will have learned lots of lessons and will have definitely improved from that experience. What happens next is up to him.”

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Sanders played [22 times](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/max-sanders/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/411495/verein/3884) during his loan spell at the League One outfit, [scoring once and providing two assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/max-sanders/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/411495/verein/3884). He enjoyed regular game-time with the Londoners, making [18 league starts](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/354539/Show/Max-Sanders) for Glyn Hodges’ side.

The 21-year-old has accrued plenty of experience at youth and reserve level for Brighton, with [six goals and six assists in 48 matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/max-sanders/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/411495/verein/39336) for the under-23s. He has been on the bench for three first team fixtures but is still awaiting a senior debut for the Seagulls (as per [TransferMarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/max-sanders/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/411495/verein/1237)).

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During his time with AFC Wimbledon, the midfielder proved to be a steely presence, winning [1.9 tackles per game](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/354539/Show/Max-Sanders), while a match average of [1.1 key passes](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/354539/Show/Max-Sanders) indicated that he can make effective use of the ball when in possession.

In 2019/20, only four players at Brighton had a better tackles per game ratio (2.2 was the joint-highest figure), while just three players surpassed Sanders’ match average for key passes, as per [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/211/Show/England-Brighton). Therefore, the youngster may feel that he could hold his own in Premier League company.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Weir’s assessment of Sanders seems a fair one – the midfielder’s spell at AFC Wimbledon offered him his [first taste of senior football](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/max-sanders/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/411495) and he appears to have acquitted himself well, albeit in the third tier.

The Brighton pathway development manager’s comment that the 21-year-old’s future is in his own hands was also striking – having seen the likes of Tariq Lamptey and [Alexis Mac Allister](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/brighton-transfer-rumours/alexis-mac-allister-profile/) [break into the first team](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/brighton-amp-hove-albion/leistungsdaten/verein/1237) at the Amex Stadium, Sanders will realise that there are opportunities for youngsters to get their chance under Graham Potter, if they can earn the manager’s trust.

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That should offer him a massive incentive to prove to his boss next season that he can be a worthy addition to the Seagulls’ first team.

***Brighton fans, are you hopeful that Sanders will break into the first team over the next few months? Comment below with your views!***