“I’ll get there very quickly! Especially the way the gaffer and the other players are pushing.”

Winger Sam Silvera admitted he is still a few weeks behind the rest of his new MK Dons team-mates when it comes to his fitness ahead of the new season.

The Australian international signed for the club last Friday before linking up with the squad earlier this week, having been without a club since May when he left Championship side Middlesbrough.

Having trained alone for several weeks during the summer while pondering his future, Silvera admitted Dons boss Paul Warne had sewn the seed of a move to Milton Keynes just days after Boro’s play-off final defeat to Hull City at Wembley.

And after agreeing to join last week, Silvera said he is now playing catch-up.

“It was a long season, going all the way to the play-off finals,” he said. “The club first made contact a week or so after the game, and it was a positive chat. The trajectory the gaffer spoke about the club being on was exciting but it was almost too soon for me to make a decision.

“I always knew it would be a fantastic opportunity, I just needed time to get my head away from football for a bit, to relax and spend time with my family. When it was the right time for me, after I thought about everything I wanted in my career, this is where I wanted to be.

“I always knew I had to keep myself fit, especially after getting injured last season. And it has been a while since I last played.

“Going into the off-season, it was important to have a break but I had to keep myself fit too. It’s something you’ve got to do, and players don’t really like working too hard during the holidays!

“I’ve had to keep myself ready for any opportunities, and keep pushing myself hard. It was all worth it.

“I’ll get there very quickly! Especially the way the gaffer and the other players are pushing.”

Having battled to carve himself a life in football in Australia, where his family moved when he was just nine months old, Silvera admitted he has had a lot of tough situations during his career to date, ranging from injuries to releases, but feels he is ready to show what he is capable of on a consistent basis in Milton Keynes.

He continued: “I’ve had a lot more downs than ups in my career so far, and a lot of footballers will say the same but it shapes you as a person. Just having the opportunity, as an Australian kid, to move to the UK is something I’m grateful to my family for. Hopefully now I’m here, I can give it my all.

“On the pitch, I want to bring flair and excitement, and I feel I’m that sort of player. I want to bring a level of consistency this season, and then goals and assists will follow.”