'March transfer window' could open for Dons ahead of Swindon trip
The reinforcements have arrived for the final ten games of the season
Four big hitters could be part of MK Dons’ travelling squad to take on Swindon Town on Saturday.
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, Curtis Nelson, Will Collar and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing all completed full training on Thursday, and have put themselves in contention to add to Paul Warne’s squad for the trip to Wiltshire.
While Hepburn-Murphy and Nelson suffered short-term blows, keeping them out of the side for only a couple of games, this run of games had always been targeted for the returns for Mendez-Laing and Collar, dubbed the ‘March Transfer Window’ earlier in the year by long-term absentee Kane Wilson.
With more weapons in his arsenal, Warne said all four of his returning players could feature on Saturday.
“Mendez fully trained, Will Collar fully trained, Curtis Nelson fully trained and Rush fully trained,” he confirmed. “All of a sudden, I have four more weapons potentially available than I did on Tuesday.
“Whether they are involved will depend on how sharp I think they are when I watch training back. It’s good news from a playing point of view, and from a leadership point of view.
“I think we’re just down to Kane (Wilson), Jay (Matete) and Pato (Callum Paterson) out now so to get it down to just those three is testament to everyone who works here.”
Their returns come at a key point in the season too, with Dons eager to take the charge to leaders Bromley, but knowing they will have their work cut out against Ian Holloway’s Swindon who themselves are keen to get back into the top three.
Warne continued: “If those four are in the travelling party, I know how that impacts the players in front of them. They are very good players who want their shirts back, and if it keeps the standards up of the players in front of them, they’re doing something without really doing anything.
“If Natty is warming up, or he’s on the team-sheet on Saturday, as an opposition manager I’d be thinking ‘oh no, not him’ and Curtis Nelson too, he’s a potent player in both boxes, and Will was playing really well before he got injured too.
“It’s always about the team, the chemistry of everyone and next man up. I was never really concerned about any of the injuries we’ve had, even Pato’s. He has been outstanding for us but we’ve hardly missed a beat since he’s been out. That doesn’t mean he’s not an amazing player, but that I’d got other amazing players to fill the gap.”