Keogh defies his critics to make return to football

His seven minute debut for MK Dons might not have changed much in the 2-0 defeat at Crewe on Saturday, but it was a giant step for Richard Keogh.

The 34-year-old was sacked by Derby County in October last year following an injury sustained in a car crash, driven by team-mate Tom Lawrence who was later convicted of drink-driving.

With the appeal process against his dismissal is still rumbling on in the background, Keogh's return to football won't have made many ripples in the football pond, but it was a huge step for the defender himself.

Showing few ill-effects of the knee injury which threatened to end his career, Keogh's energy and eagerness to get on the ball at the Alexandra Stadium was evident as he tried in vain to turn Dons' fortunes around.

For manager Russell Martin, Keogh's return defied what many had predicted - that the defender's career would be over after he was sacked by Derby.

"It's testament to him," said Martin. "He has had 11 months of really tough times in terms of how he has been treated and what has gone on, it has been really tough for him. I'm really pleased he has come back. He has worked extremely hard.

"A lot of people thought he wouldn't be able to come back, people thought he'd be out for two years but he has put his head down, said nothing, got on with it, showed an unbelievable attitude, worked hard on his own for a long time until he joined us.

"There was no plan to bring him on but I felt we needed a man on the pitch, and someone who isn't fazed by anything that goes on. I was really pleased for him to play and to get minutes for us. He will be really big for us. He's been forgotten a bit because he hasn't been involved but he's getting there. It's a really positive step that he was back out on the pitch."