Eager Eisa won’t be rushed into a return after his Charlton cameo

Mo Eisa had been bugging Liam Manning for weeks to get him back out on the pitch for MK Dons - and on Tuesday, he got his wish.

The 28-year-old has been sidelined for six months with an ankle injury picked up late last season but was given 12 minutes at the end of Dons’ 2-0 win over Charlton Athletic at The Valley, ending their five-game losing streak.

It has been a tough road to recovery for Eisa, having had surgery on the ankle ligaments damaged in the 3-2 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last April, while watching on as his team-mates struggled through the early goings this term.

Eisa returned to light training a few weeks ago and was something of a surprise inclusion on the bench for Manning’s side, desperate for any kind of boost they could get heading down to south London for the clash.

And his return, according to Manning, will help spur everyone on at the club.

“It was massive,” he said. “I have to give huge credit to Mo and the medical staff. It has been a long journey, but he has stayed positive and upbeat, he has done the work asked of him and it's terrific to have him back. He's a huge part of the group.

“Mo has been on at me for weeks to bring him back early. He's a  big boost, not just his quality but his character. He's got goals at this level, so having someone of that quality is big for us.

“I don't want to load him up too quickly, because ultimately he has been out for six months but if he hits the ground running, great, but it if takes time then that's also OK. It's just good to have him back.”

Highlight of the night

Eisa’s return, albeit a cameo towards the end, is a big step in the right direction, and for team-mate Zak Jules, was the highlight of the night.

Jules said: “It was the highlight of my night seeing Mo's number come up on the board. I've seen the hard work he's put in, he's been out a while with a bad injury.

“I've had a bad injury myself, and it's hard to keep your head and see the light at the end of the tunnel. For him to get back into the side and get some minutes is massive.

“We know what Mo's about - he scores goals, simple as that. It was massive for Mo, massive for us and I'm really pleased for him.”