The MK Dons skipper went through the range of emotions after missing the majority of pre-season

A pre-season injury for Alex Gilbey hit the MK Dons captain in more ways than one this summer.

The 31-year-old, fresh off the back of leading his side to automatic promotion last season, was ready for the return of League One football to Stadium MK for the first time in three years, but a knee injury suffered in the opening eight minutes at Maidenhead threatened to keep him out not just for a few weeks, but an entire year.

With concerns he had ruptured his ACL, Gilbey feared the worst with the outpouring of grief from physios and team-mate alike, just days before he was set to board a plan with the rest of the squad for Dons’ pre-season camp in Croatia.

Fortunately, a scan a couple of days later revealed his injury was not as bad as first feared, but that was when other emotions kicked in for the skipper.

“I had FOMO so badly!” he said. “I was texting all the boys all the time (while they were training in Europe) and was getting annoyed they weren’t texting me back! They’re a really good group.

“I love being around the lads, helping everyone gel, so I had to take a step back from all of that and take care of myself.

“It was really frustrating, it came at the worst possible time. To see the lads jetting away to Croatia, working hard together made it hard sitting on the sidelines. But I’m back and feeling really strong.”

He continued: “Everyone expected the worst with the injury. I got the call from the physio to tell me it wasn’t as bad as first feared, and I was celebrating. He reminded me it was still a nasty one but compared to what they were telling me, it was a good thing!

“I took a week to myself while the lads were away and got myself into a good position so when they came back, I could attack the gym and be around the lads again.”