More injury concerns came during Dons’ 3-1 defeat on Saturday

Defender Jack Sanders could miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury he suffered in the defeat to Barnet on Saturday.

The 27-year-old, who celebrated his birthday last week, took a tumble with Bees striker Kabongo Tshimanga in the second-half at Stadium MK, but stayed down holding his shoulder. After receiving treatment, the MK Dons centre-back walked off cradling his arm.

Head coach Paul Warne admitted it was too early to tell the extend of Sanders’ injury in the immediate aftermath of the game, but said he feared the worst.

“Jack fell oddly,” he explained. “Initially I thought he was embarrassed because he’d made an error, and he was down because he’d been clipped. But I got told over the radio it was his shoulder, and that’s never a good sign.

“I’m concerned it’s a season-ending injury, but it might not be, it could be absolutely nothing. The realistic part of my brain is thinking it’s not good.”

Earlier in the game, Dons were dealt a blow when midfielder Connor Lemonheigh-Evans had to come off with a knee injury after another tumble with a Barnet defender. The Welshman has suffered several injury lay-offs this season, and was making his first start since January 9 but had to be withdrawn after 36 minutes, replaced by Aaron Collins.

Warne said: “Connor felt his knee. When a player comes off with a knee injury and the adrenaline doesn’t kick in, it’s never a good sign. Sometimes you can play on for a bit but the fact he couldn’t is an indicator that there’s obviously damage in his knee.

“He’s so unlucky, that’s the first game he’s started in ages and he was really competitive.”

Missing entirely from the squad was defender Curtis Nelson, who was out for personal reasons, with Warne adding: “Curtis missed out for personal reasons which I cannot share with you, he’s been out of the building for a couple of days. Hopefully we can welcome him back next week.”