Akinfenwa eyeing perfect Wembley swansong for Wycombe legend's Last Dance

Adebayo Akinfenwa is approaching the final stretch of his long and colourful career.

The question now is whether 'The Beast' has two games left to play, or three.

The Wycombe Wanderers striker, who will turn 40 next week, is on a mission to seal another against-the-odds promotion to the Championship before he strolls off into the sunset.

He would dearly love a swansong at Wembley for the League One play-off final on May 21. But before then he and his colleagues need to find a way past MK Dons over two legs, starting with Thursday night's first leg at Adams Park.

Akinfenwa joined Wycombe back in 2016, and has developed cult hero status among the club's fans.

He has played his part in helping them rise from League Two up into the Championship, including a memorable play-off win in 2020. He is also their highest-ever EFL scorer and the esteem in which he is held in this particular corner of Buckinghamshire was highlighted perfectly when a recent game was dedicated to paying tribute to his long career.

"He deserves all the plaudits he gets because that guy has been fabulous for Wycombe," said boss Gareth Ainsworth ahead of that celebratory game.

"If somebody does well for you, give them the recognition they deserve. When we signed him it was billed as a publicity stunt: 'What are Wycombe doing, surely that guy's finished?' But he's gone on to become our greatest ever EFL goalscorer and he deserves that."

Understandably given his age, the team's reliance on Akinfenwa has gradually faded season on season. But he has still played his part in aiding their rise to the play-off spots this term.

He's contributed six goals but more important than that is his obvious abilities to hold-up the ball and be a general handful for opposition defenders.

A 12-game unbeaten run to end the regular season saw the Chairboys sneak into the top-six on the final day and Akinfenwa's role in their success, whether it be coming on in the final few minutes to help the ball stick up top or on the sidelines as a vocal cheerleader for this colleagues, is undoubted.

He is now well accustomed to being a 'super sub' with cameos off the bench the order of the day. His last start was back in January which gives a big indication as to his likely role in the double-header against the Dons. If reports are correct, then this summer could not only see Akinfenwa depart Wycombe but manager Ainsworth - who has been in the post since September 2012 - as well.

Links to the impending vacancy at Blackburn Rovers were obvious, given Ainsworth is a fan of the club and started out in their youth squad. But that talk can wait for now. As can what is next for the busy Akinfenwa.

He has previously teased about a move into pro wrestling, one of his big hobbies outside football, saying talks with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) had taken place. Scripted feuds in the square circle may well await Akinfenwa in the future.

But for now he is hoping to write his own fairytale ending, and help manufacture a winning Wembley finale that would crown the most eventful of careers.