The loneliness of being an injured player weighs over MK Dons’ missing wing-backs

Missing in action defenders Kane Wilson and Ryan Barnett have barely had an opportunity to make a mark on their MK Dons team-mates, let alone the club’s supporters.

Wilson has featured just once since his move from Derby County in August 2025, kept out with a knee injury which has seen him undergo several operations to put right.

Barnett meanwhile arrived on loan from Wrexham this summer, but has made just four appearances before suffering an injury which has kept him out since the start of September.

Barely spending enough time on the field to endear themselves to the Dons supporters, the pair are, according to head coach Paul Warne, finding out the hard way the other setbacks players make when out on the sidelines.

“Injuries are devastating for a player, and one the ways is socially,” he said. “Kane is the funniest kid you’ll meet. He’s clever too, he comes across as ditzy but he’s sharp as a tack.

“Ryan came here to play games, because he knew his time would be limited at Wrexham this season, and he’s had a couple of moments in his games, but I feel for him too.

“When you’re long-term injured, although you still eat with your team-mates, they’re all talking about training, or something from a game or something that happened on the bus. The injured lads have a different existence and that is difficult.

“It’s the same for Jay Matete too. He’s been here nearly a year but he’s been blighted with injury. He’s fit again now and he’s got to fight to get into the team.

“You don’t feel as valued because no-one knows you. Not that he needs adulation, but if Gilbs (Alex Gilbey) were to walk to the shops, people would know who he was there. We’re all narcissistic to a certain level, professional players want to excite crowds, they feed of it. If you’re injured for a year, you don’t get any of that.

“There is nothing at the end of the week that justified the work you put in in the gym all week.

“It’s frustrating but I hope the fans get to see the best parts of these players whenever that is, and they can understand why we brought them to the club.”

There could be light at the end of the tunnel for the stricken wing-backs though.

Warne continued: “Kane is ticking along, and we hope to see him on the grass very soon. He hasn’t had any setbacks from the last rehab so that’s good. He isn’t a million miles away. In my head, I was earmarking him at the end of this year, but I don’t want to put a timeframe on him in case of another setback. Ideally, he will be back in squad training pretty soon.

“Ryan has joined in with training but felt an awareness so we’ve pulled him out for another week to make sure we’ve not brought him back too quickly.

“For both of those players, they’re both outstanding wing-backs who would add a lot to this team. So it is difficult for them.”