No long-term injury fears for Kelly after missing Cambridge clash
The midfielder is not set for a long spell out of the side
Paul Warne eased fears after MK Dons midfielder Liam Kelly missed out on Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Cambridge United.
The 30-year-old has been neigh-on ever present for Dons this season in the midfield engine room but was missing from the squad at the Abbey Stadium for the first time in the league all year.
A knock suffered against Walsall on Monday night ruled the former Crawley man out of the trip to Cambridge, but head coach Warne eased fears of a long-term absence for Kelly, hinting that he could be back on the pitch for the next game.
“I wasn’t aware he was injured until I got a call from the physios on Tuesday,” Warne said. “It shocked me, because I didn’t know he’d picked up a knock.
“He damaged his knee, he was in severe pain. He bruised the back of his knee. His kneecap hit his fat pad, that hit the back of his knee and it gave him bone bruising. So he had massive inflammation and bruising but I don’t think it’s a long-term one.
“I don’t think he’ll be out for too long, I’m hoping he will be available for Harrogate.
“We missed his zip in the middle possibly. On a small pitch like this, I think he would’ve been ledge.”
He was replaced in the centre of the Abbey Stadium park by Luke Offord - a rare venture into midfield. Initially signed to play in the middle of the pitch, the former Crewe man put in a typically reliable performance, impressing Warne.
He added: “Luke is an absolutely safe pair of hands isn’t he. I like players who can play in a variety of different positions, and I thought he was really good. But for the first 60 minutes, we weren’t like ourselves in the middle of the park.”