The defender has made only ten appearances this season

Laurence Maguire has become something of a forgotten man over the last few months at MK Dons.

The defender has made just ten appearances this season, the last of them coming on December 13 in the 1-1 draw with Cambridge United at Stadium MK, a game he limped out of after just 28 minutes. Since then, he has not featured in a matchday squad.

With Dons’ big squad volume, the 29-year-old drew the short straw and went unregistered, finding himself down the pecking order in defence as Dons’ promotion chase picked up pace since the turn of the New Year.

Still training with the side though, Maguire has continued to please and impress head coach Paul Warne, who said the ex-Chesterfield man is one of the most professional players in his squad.

Injuries though have heavily hindered his time at the club, with only 30 outings last term too following various issues throughout the campaign. The summer addition of Marvin Ekpiteta came after a pre-season ailment kept Maguire out of the start of the season, while his injury in December was compounded by the arrival of Curtis Nelson.

Along with the form of Jack Sanders and the almost ever-present Luke Offord, opportunities have been scant.

“He’s one of the top three pros I’ve got,” Warne said of Maguire. “But he has some very good centre-halves ahead of him. We’ve not conceded a lot of goals.

“I brought in Marv and Nels, and with Offy being almost ever-present, it’s been hard for Loz to get in. I don’t generally have a defensive-minded bench, and it’s not to say if I wanted to I wouldn’t play him, I have full trust in him.

“He’s been a good player for us and never let us down, unfortunately he’s had injuries which have kept him out and others have picked up the cudgel.

“If I needed to put him in on Saturday, I’d have no problems picking him. He’s been good, he’s in really good nick, and I know if he’s needed he’d be great for us.”

Maguire’s contract at the club is set to expire at the end of the season.