Dons to welcome back as many as SIX players to face Sunderland

Russell Martin could bring in six players to the starting line-up who did not play against Sunderland on Tuesday night for their League One encounter with the Black Cats tomorrow.

Andrew Fisher, Harry Darling, Zak Jules, Ethan Laird, Andrew Surman and Charlie Brown could all be thrust into the team having played no part in the Papa John's Trophy defeat, while Cameron Jerome too started on the bench and is likely to start at Stadium MK. Will Grigg remains sidelined as per his loan agreement from the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland too are likely to make wholesale changes for their second game in MK1 in four days too, having triumphed 3-0 earlier this week to progress to the semi-final. Lee Johnson's side sit sixth in the standings, level on points with three other teams for the final play-off spot. Dons meanwhile sit 16th, nine points adrift of the Mackems having played a game less too.

"I think both teams will look different," said Martin. "It will be a tough game, no doubt about it. Sunderland will be right up there with the players they have at this level, and the experience. They have to be up there with the demands of the club. It will be difficult but I do believe we've played really well against teams in the top half of the league, in the top six or seven in particular and especially at home. We have to make sure this game is the same, that we build on the good bits on Tuesday night.

"Every game, we make teams realise they have to work hard for anything they get. We have to have that same mentality but match it with a bit more quality and patience in the final third. If we can do that, we've got a chance of winning the game and building a bit more momentum."

Surman has been absent from Dons duty since the 3-0 defeat at Peterborough last month when he limped out in the opening 14 minutes. The 34-year-old has been training this week and is in line to return, but Martin will have to wait a bit longer for David Kasumu and Jordan Houghton, who remain sidelined.

Martin continued: "Surs has trained, so he's back in the squad, Jordan Houghton is back in light training so he'll ramp that back up and get more involved which is great, he's not far off either. And it;s the same with David. They'll both be back in the next week or two. And all of a sudden, our options in midfield are very good."