After quiet pre-season games, two of Dons’ midfield signings showed their worth at Oxford

New signings Dan Barlaser and Ryan Wintle gave MK Dons fans a taste of what is to come, according to boss Paul Warne.

The pair were free transfer captures this summer, brought into an already brimming midfield cordon for the League One campaign. Having both made appearances against Norwich City last week in the Carabao Cup, Barlaser and Wintle started the first league game of the season against Oxford and both contributed with assists amongst strong displays.

Barlaser in particular stood out as he took over from Liam Kelly, who signed for Peterborough on Thursday, acting as a calming presence in the middle of the park, straying balls left and right, while putting a deft cross onto the head of Charlie Goode to score Dons’ equaliser.

Five minutes later, Wintle, who scored his first goal for the club in the defeat at Carrow Road last Saturday, put one on a plate for Aaron Collins to head home five minutes after the equaliser, in a performance which saw him pop up all over the Kassam Stadium.

Having cruised relatively unnoticed through the pre-season friendlies, the pair showed what they bring to the table on Saturday, according to the head coach.

“I think some of our players in pre-season were… not playing within themselves but were just getting the minutes in, not getting an injury,” he said. “When the real ball comes so to speak, you see your real players. I thought Dan was excellent, I thought Wintle the same covered every bit of grass.

“Dan has a bit of calm on the ball, a lot of calm in fact, and his range of passing is a joke. He’s hitting diags like nobodies business. He’s a great addition.”

Warne went on to praise another two pre-season signings, both Cohen Bramall and Sam Nombe, adding: “Cohen, when he opened up his legs seemed a bit unfair.

“Sam Nombe, although he didn’t get a goal, looked pretty awesome as well. His hold-up play was pretty good but nothing really fell to him.”