AFC Wimbledon’s first signing of the summer says Neal Ardley will get the best out of him.

Jon Meades has returned to the Cherry Red Records stadium on a permanent basis after a loan spell in the 2012-13 season saw him make 26 appearances for the Dons.

He featured in Saturday’s 2-2 friendly draw with Watford, where penalties from Callum Kennedy and George Francomb frustrated the Premier League side.

Ardley knows Meades well having managed the versatile defender in the U16s and U18s side at Cardiff City.

The boss was quick to bring the 23-year-old into the fold when he took on the hot seat at the Dons in 2012, and after Meades’ subsequent two-season spell at Oxford United came to an end, Ardley recruited his man again.

Meades said: “My career has been stop-start – my best season was probably the one here [at the Dons] when I had a run of games. If I get that, I can progress.

“I had a bad injury at Oxford and missed the whole season of my first season there, which was unfortunate.

“Last season I was in and out of the team – we had a new manager who brought in new players. It did not work out.”

PICTURE GALLERY: AFC Wimbledon 2-2 Watford

He added: “So I am excited to be back. I had a really good spell when I was here last and I know the coaching staff well and I know Neal well as his was my youth manager at Cardiff.

“He helped me progress to get a pro contract at Cardiff before I moved onto to Bournemouth. He got the job at the Dons as first team manager and I think I was one of his first signings.

“I know there is more to come from me, and Neal is the right man to get it.”

Meades is one of four new signings since the end of last season – joining Andy Barcham, Tom Elliott and Karleigh Osborne on the newbie list.

Wimbledon Times:

New man: Andy Barcham in action against Watford

Social media has been reverberating to fans’ frustrations over the lack of new names, but Meades believed Ardley is doing things right.

“It is down to the manager which areas need strengthening, but this is a strong squad already,” he said.

“Neal knows what he wants, and the additions so far, from what I have seen in training this week, have been really good.

“The club has progressed over the past couple of seasons, and promotion is in our grasp this season.

“We have to push towards that. With the squad we have and the positive signings we’ve made, by the end of pre-season we should be ready to go and there is no reason why we cannot push for promotion.”