Dons offer Revell a chance to end difficult time in Cardiff

The 32-year-old openly admitted his year at Cardiff City was an unhappy one after signing from Rotherham as he struggled to make an impression on the first team.

The move to stadium:mk comes much later than the striker had hoped too, with Dons making a play for him in the summer window, only for the deal to fall flat at the last minute.

For Revell, the fact that Dons renewed their interest when the window reopened in January made him give the attention extra credence and he was only too happy to seal the deal.

“When we spoke after the League Cup game earlier this season, it was looking likely it would happen then but it didn’t for whatever reason. But I’m looking forward now.

“It has been a tough year, but it’s about enjoying my football and getting back to where I feel I was at my best. I believe I can be an asset to the side.

“Unfortunately it just didn’t happen at Cardiff. It was a chance I had to take because it was a club that everyone would want to play for. It was a massive opportunity, and even scoring on my debut wasn’t enough. I knew from then it was going to be a losing battle.

“But I didn’t give up. I still want to play, and I’m disappointed that it didn’t work because I wanted to go there and do well.

“It’s time to forget about it now though, but it will be hard because my family is still there, so I’ll be going back a lot.

“It is a big move for me, but I believe I have the ability to make it work. I I’m 32 but I don’t feel it, so now for me it’s about getting my head down, getting in the side and scoring goals which I’m determined to do.”

Like Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who also signed on transfer deadline day, the announcement of the signing of Revell came late in the day as the 11pm deadline loomed.

But as late as 4pm, Revell had resigned himself to staying in Cardiff.

He said: “It’s a bit stressful, but once the deal goes through it was a relief. I was playing with my little boy in the park in Cardiff, then all of a sudden I had to be in the car! But that’s football - you’re only in it for a little while, so you’ve got to make the most of it.

“I thought I was going to be there until the end of the season which isn’t what I wanted because it just breeds uncertainty.

“You’re quickly forgotten in football so for me I had to go somewhere I could play and be involved. I said this was the club for me, because it’s close for home to me and I can bring my family here in the summer. This was the one I wanted to happen.

“I’m from Cambridge and I want to get my family here, so it couldn’t have worked out better for me. I was excited, the family is excited and it’s a fresh start. I can leave everything that has happened in the last year behind me and start again.”

He met his new team-mates for the first time this afternoon, but Revell says he is familiar with the squad having played against them in the past.

And while they’re languishing at the wrong end of the table, Revell thinks Dons are more than capable of staying in the Championship and knows how vital it is for the club to do so.

He said: “To stay in this division is massive this year. It’s the be all and end all, we have to stay up and I think we’re more than capable of doing that.

“We’ve got a lot of depth here now, so you know if you’re not doing it in the team, you’re going to be out because there’s someone else who can take your place. I think it’s healthy and what we need to get points to stay here.

“My presence as a number 9 is what the gaffer wants, and to be on the end of the chances we create. The gaffer talks about my work rate, and you need that at this level because if someone isn’t pulling their weight you quickly get found out.

“For me and Jay, it’ll be about hitting the ground running. I think I need to score some goals and we’ll all be happy come the end of the season.

“With regards to football, the stadium and the positivity around here is great. As long as we can maintain that, I can’t see anything but a positive finish.”