Martin takes responsibility for Kasumu's bookings

David Kasumu picking up a yellow card has become a common occurrence for MK Dons this season, but that's not his fault according to Russell Martin

The midfielder has picked up 12 bookings in 24 League One appearances this season, but is only fourth in the yellow card chart this season behind Sean Clare (Oxford/Burton with 14), Oliver Norburn (Shrewsbury, 13) and George Honeyman (Hull, 13).

After picking up an early booking at Fleetwood on Saturday though Kasumu had to be substituted at half time, replaced by Louis Thompson, after referee Stephen Martin warned he was one foul away from being sent off.

Speaking about Kasumu's frequent appearances in the referee's book, Martin said it is a by-product of the position the 21-year-old has been told to play and his half-time substitution at Fleetwood will make no difference to his selection next week in the final game of the season against Rochdale.

"That's not on him, but on us because it's the role we ask him to play," he said. "It involves being really selfless and putting himself in those situations. But when he is in those situations, he deals with it incredibly well and manages his game.

"Fleetwood were desperate to get him off the pitch and every time he touched one of them, they went down screaming - and of course you'll do that, it's part of the game. But once the referee told us he had one more, we were put in a tough position. I didn't want to take him off.

"He has been great, I love his tenacity. He's a brilliant person to work with. He understood, but he will want to finish the season strongly and hopefully avoid anotehr booking that early in the game again."