The MK Dons winger under the knife twice during his long spell on the sidelines

Being pain-free again is the biggest relief for Nathaniel Mendez-Laing after going under the knife twice in the early part of 2026.

The Guatemalan was in top form for MK Dons before his season hit the buffers in December, having scored six goals in five games before suffering the same injury which has befallen so many players this season - a torn hamstring.

Going under the knife before Dons’ 4-0 win away at Harrogate Town just before Christmas, the 34-year-old set about his rehabilitation but not before undergoing a second operation.

He said: “I had my hamstring repair, but people won’t know I had a double hernia operation as well so I had to get them both to align so that I could run pain free.

“It feels like it has all come together nicely now, and I’m playing football pain-free again, and I’m comfortable within myself.”

Spending three-and-a-half months on the sidelines, Mendez-Laing made his return at the end of March, and has since chipped in with a goal and an assist as Dons have moved into position to secure automatic promotion this Saturday against Tranmere Rovers.

Still working his way up to full-match fitness, the former Derby County winger admitted he is unlikely to be back to full strength before next season, but has certainly been putting in the work behind-the-scenes. Not only working with Dons’ medical staff, Mendez-Laing was also working with trainers away from Stadium MK, with in particular lending a valuable hand in helping in his rehab.

He said: “My wife has a background in the medical department which always helps. Sometimes getting a little bit of something different helps. When there are a few players injured, you can’t always get a staff just to yourself, so going for one-on-one stuff enhanced my recovery. It’s something I’m really big on.

“It was massive for me. Whether you’re injured or not, you always get coached and trained at the club, but you can never stop improving away from the club.

“I don’t think I’m up to full sharpness, but I’m feeling a lot better now I’m training. When we have pre-season, you have six or seven weeks. I’ve been out for four months. You get games in pre-season to get ready, but I’ve now had longer than that out now, so I don’t think I’ll get fitter before the end of the season.

“Now It’s about me giving what I can for the team to get us over the line.”