Daddy Crowley guides his side just hours after welcoming new addition

The come-from-behind 3-3 draw with Wycombe Wanderers was dramatic enough for MK Dons, but it was the calm after the storm for midfielder Dan Crowley.

Arriving at Adams Park, Crowley had already been through an emotional rollercoaster as he welcomed a new baby boy into his family overnight, but made himself available for selection for Paul Warne’s side as they sought their first League One victory of the season. And things did not look good, 2-0 down at the break to goals from Dan Casey and Ewan Henderson.

Crowley has been a troublesome feature for Warne this season. The ex-Notts County man has impressed the head coach throughout the summer, looking positive in Dons’ pre-season games and lively in his brief cameo appearances since.

Keen to make better use of the midfielder, Warne threw Crowley into the fray at half-time on Saturday, and within 13 minutes of his arrival, Dons were ahead, and Crowley had featured heavily. Involved in all three goals, he also narrowly missed adding a fourth goal for Dons in stoppage time but saw his header land just wide, stamping his mark and making a real case for bigger involvement in weeks to come.

The option was available for him miss the game though. Like with Jack Sanders’ absence from the trip to Grimsby Town last season, Warne said ensuring his players are available for life’s important moments away from the pitch are just as vital as those on it, and had Crowley asked to stay with his wife and newborn, he absolutely would have allowed him.

“They know what I’m like as a human being, so if he’d told me he wanted to stay with his wife, I’d definitely agree,” Warne said. “Forcing a player to come, you don’t know what sort of performance you’d get. Things like that are important.

“On Thursday, I let Nels go home early so he could get his son from his first day at school - these things are important as human beings.

“I spoke to Dan at 7.30 in the morning, and he asked to meet me at the stadium. Dan performed magically considering he hasn’t slept, so going forward, not sleeping on a Friday night might be the future for his career!

“He’s trained unbelievably well, and I thought he deserved his chance. I do believe in fairytales, so I did think he would score the winner. He was excellent when he came on.”

Team-mate Callum Paterson, who also came on at half-time alongside Crowley, said the midfielder’s performance after experiencing becoming a dad again was something special.

“He deserves it especially after having a baby this morning,” Paterson said. “To be there for the birth of his baby, it’s a really special thing and thankfully he was there for that.

“He played really well, and he deserves an opportunity because he has been training really well.

“It’s hard work, and a big change. I had two kids in two years, so it was a big shock to myself and my wife.”

Asked whether Mrs Paterson would allow him to play just hours after giving birth, the Scot joked: “Absolutely not! I’d give it a go, try and sneak away saying I was going to the shop! Fair play to his wife, it’s a tough situation especially as Dan wants to play and thankfully, she’s very understanding!”