The centre-back needed an operation over the summer but has returned ready to go

Defender Jack Sanders admitted he had to play a bit of catch-up over the summer to get fit in time for pre-season after he went under the knife.

It was a breakout season for the centre-back as he made 35 league outings helped MK Dons to secure automatic promotion, being named in the League Two Team of the Season, alongside team-mates Liam Kelly and Callum Paterson.

But the 27-year-old admitted he was struggling for fitness towards the end of the season with a groin injury. Delaying the operation into the summer, Sanders celebrated with his team-mates in Las Vegas before going under the knife a couple of days removed from his return.

While the squad were given two weeks off from any training schedules, Sanders admitted his recovery meant he was a week or two behind the rest of the players in getting back to personal training before the return to Woughton last week, meaning he felt he had to play catch-up.

“I was struggling towards the end of the season,” he said. “We went to Vegas together, and I had a groin operation two days later, and then I had two or three weeks without doing anything. So I was a couple of weeks behind, but was having to play catch-up because I knew where everyone would be when we came back.

“Mentally you know what’s coming up, you get sent the schedules of what you need to do. Mine was a bit more tailored because of the operation I had, so I did as much as I could to come back in the best shape I could. The group know what is expected of us and we’ve all come back in good condition.”

The celebration with the rest of the Dons players was bittersweet though, Sanders admitted, knowing it was to be the last time the promotion winning group would be together with several players set for departure at the end of their contracts.

He said: “You can reflect on a successful season personally and as a team, it’s always nice going on holiday knowing you’ve achieved something nice. There are a lot of footballers who aren’t lucky enough to achieve a promotion or something like that.

“As a team, we were fortunate enough to do that as a group, and cherish those moments. But as soon as the summer holidays started, we knew we were ready to go again.

“Everyone who was here played a part, we were such a good team. To be able to go and celebrate that with everyone meant everything to all of the boys, even though deep down you knew it might be the last time you may see them.

“It was a fantastic group, I cannot speak highly enough of them. It is rare that you’re in this industry and everyone gets on, pulling in the same direction.”