The forward played for Paul Warne at both Rotherham and Derby County

The turnaround in fortunes at MK Dons in the last month has come as no surprise to one of Paul Warne’s former strikers Conor Washington.

The front man played under Dons’ head coach at both Rotherham United and Derby County, playing a part in the Rams’ promotion winning campaign in 23/24 as they went up to the Championship.

Dons were without a win in League One until a month ago, when the win over Luton on October 17 kick-started their campaign. They have won eight of their last ten games in all competitions, while climbing from 23rd to 12th in League One and progressing in both the FA Cup and Jersey Mike’s Subs Trophy with a 100 per cent record.

Tuesday night’s win over Bromley in the Trophy was their fifth in a row too, with Warne a Manager of the Month nomination for the club’s form in October.

Speaking to Best Betting Bonuses, Washington said he was not in the least bit surprised to see Dons finally find their strike, particularly with Warne at the helm.

He said: “With the quality they’ve got in that group and the experience of the management team, I’m not surprised by the turnaround, to be honest. The gaffer has assembled a squad with a lot of players he knows really well, and I think that’s particularly important for him, because so much of his strength as a manager comes from his ability to understand individuals and get the very best out of them.

“I’ve got huge respect for him, both as a manager and as a human being. He takes a genuine interest in you as a person, not just as a footballer, and as stupid as it sounds, that’s actually quite a rare quality in football. Having played under him at two different clubs, I’ve seen first-hand how much importance he places on relationships and creating an environment where players want to give everything for him.

“I think that becomes particularly important when results aren’t going your way and there’s pressure from the outside. If you’ve built those relationships and the players genuinely believe in you, they’re far more likely to stick together and come through difficult periods.

“Ultimately, (their form) is a brilliant response, but knowing the gaffer and the people he’s got around him, I don’t think anyone inside that dressing room will have been panicking quite as much as people on the outside.”