The former Manchester United and Aston Villa striker has high expectations of MK Dons this season

It may have been a slow start to the season, but Dion Dublin still expects MK Dons to be in the play-off mix come the end of the season.

Paul Warne’s side have gone five without a win on their return to League One, having spent three years in League Two. Four draws and a defeat leave the side sat 18th in the division, with derby clashes against Peterborough and AFC Wimbledon coming up before taking on fellow newly promoted Bromley at Stadium MK.

Dublin, who made his name at Cambridge United who also returned to the third tier this season, said Dons’ slow start to life back in League One has raised a few eyebrows but he still expects them to be challenging at the sharper end of the division come the New Year.

Speaking to Reviant, he said: “Expectations are huge at MK Dons. I’ve been to that stadium many, many times when Paul Ince was manager and Karl Robinson too and it’s a very good football club with a good fan base and it can be a hard place to go too.

“Perhaps they’ve surprised a few people with the way they’ve started.

“I don’t think MK Dons are the sort of football club that accepts how it is though and I think they’ll already be trying to do something about it.

“I can’t see them staying in the lower end of the table come the second half of the season. I think they’ll finish top eight, maybe top six. They’re too big of a club, and they’re too used to pushing on now.”