Centre-back Jack Sanders spoke up MK Dons’ chances in League One

There is no reason why MK Dons cannot be fighting at the top end of League One this season, according to Jack Sanders.

The 27-year-old played a key role in Dons promotion from League Two last season, finishing just a point behind champions Bromley after taking the fight to the title to the final day.

Three promoted teams in the last two seasons have reached at least the play-offs following on from their League Two successes, with Wrexham able to do the double by reaching the Championship at the first attempt.

With Dons keen to at least be in the conversation at the sharp end this coming campaign, Sanders said there is nothing stopping them from emulating at least both Stockport County and Bradford City before them in finishing in the top six.

“You’ve always got to be optimistic,” he said. “As players, we’ve got to believe we can go and do it again.

“When you look at Bradford last season, they made a really good account of themselves in League One, Stockport have done it of course.

“There are some strong teams to have come down as well who I’m sure will be right up there, but if you want to do well in the league, you have to compete against the best and do well. There’s no reason why we can’t, we expect to hopefully do well.”

He continued: “Obviously it’s cliche, and we said it a lot last season, but you can only focus on the next game, which is Oxford, and then the rest takes care of itself.

“You have to hope and believe that you can do something special, and if we don’t believe that, it won’t happen.”