The Scot is back and ready to fight his way back into MK Dons’ plans

The gauntlet has been thrown down to striker Callum Paterson to fight his way back into the MK Dons starting line-up.

Last season’s top scorer has struggled to make an imprint on the campaign thus far, falling behind Sam Nombe in the pecking order, while injury has prevented him from making a mark since the middle of September.

On Saturday, the Scot came off the bench to make his return in the 1-0 win over Stevenage, given an eight-minute cameo following his recovery, but thus far he has made only three league starts all season.

While boss Paul Warne has spoke of his eagerness to see Paterson back and fit again so he can offer a break for the likes of Aaron Collins and Sam Nombe, he said a place in the starting line-up has to be earned.

“Your attacking options are the most exciting subs,” he said. “Everyone wants to change the game at the top of the pitch. Sam and Az have put in unbelievable shifts in recent weeks, but you just need to freshen it up.

“Pato is desperate to get into the team, and getting into it is not rocket science - you’ve just got to play better than the ones in front. Pato has only been back for two or three training days so he’s still catching up.”

After picking up a couple of wins against Luton and Stevenage sticking with largely the same team, Warne said picking a side becomes easier.

He said: “If we’d started the season with a few more points, I think we’d have changed more personnel over these games. They’re so close and physically so demanding.

“So far, I’ve stuck to a very similar team and only changed what I’ve needed to. In a winning team too, generally speaking you stay the same. Good performances and points allow you to tinker a bit less.

“All the times we’ve tinkered before, the intentions are there but sometimes I can make the team worse. That’s not through choice, I want it to be amazing. So when things are going well, and the results are coming, less change is needed.”