Brown is knocking on the door for a Dons start

Striker Charlie Brown is getting closer to being handed his first start for MK Dons since signing from Chelsea.

The 21-year-old has made four appearances off the bench since signing midway through the January window, still getting up to speed after missing several weeks training after contracting Covid while at Chelsea.

After a few weeks in the squad at MK Dons though, Russell Martin says the striker is up to speed, has been impressing in training and is knocking on the door for a place in the starting line-up.

"He's progressing really well," said the manager. "He came to us without having not had much training, he had Covid and then wasn't training over Christmas. It has taken a little while to get up to speed but I'm really excited by Charlie for the rest of the season and especially for next season.

"He's got more fight and aggression than I thought he had, and he's surprised people in training with the level of intensity. He's technically a very good footballer – he makes good runs and he's a good finisher. But what has come with that is the desire to improve and get himself into this team and to show his team-mates he is willing to fight.

"Physically, he's getting more up to speed. He's getting there, and he's knocking on the door. He's in a place where he's ready to play now.

"I'm really pleased with the options we've got up there, with Griggy now, Joe Mason and the way he's performed in the last few games, and Cammy too so we're really pleased."