Whirlwind Dons debut the best way for Wiles to settle in at his new club
The MK Dons midfielder barely knew his team-mates’ names heading onto the pitch against Oxford for his debut
Being dropped in at the deep end was probably the best thing for Ben Wiles after being asked to make his MK Dons about 24-hours after signing for the club.
The 26-year-old midfielder was immediately thrust into the starting line-up for Paul Warne’s side to face Oxford United in the FA Cup, barely had the ink dried on his move from Huddersfield Town a day prior.
But rather than having to wait months as he may have in pre-season, or be eased into the side, Wiles said being thrown straight into the mix from the off was probably the best way to ingratiate and bed himself into life in Milton Keynes, even if he was still learning the names of his new team-mates.
“I only spoke to about two other people in that first 24-hours as well, so that was difficult!” he joked. “I think it was the better option than waiting around for a debut, playing for 20 minutes, half-an-hour. It was late notice but I’m glad it was that way around.
“The lads seem really good, they’ve made me feel really welcome. The gaffer wants to bring good people in, people who are kind and think about others, and those sorts of people make a team. Being a good person is easy, and I’m happy and glad they’ve welcomed me in.”
No stranger to the head coach, Wiles played nearly 200 games for Warne at Rotherham earlier in his career, something he said helped him in slotting straight into the side against the U’s.
He continued: “I was lucky enough to play for the gaffer for a few years, and I get what he wants, what he expects from me. If I can do that, I know when I shake his hand at the end he’ll be happy.”
Dropping down a division to join Dons, Wiles said while he was not surprised by the level of talent in the dressing room he was walking into, but it was the level of intensity he has seen in training over the last week has been a real eye-opener for him.
He continued: “I’m not surprised (by the level of talent here), there is some crazy talent. But it’s a surprise to see the intensity of training. I didn’t know what to expect to drop down. I knew what I was coming into, but seeing them in person, it’s really good.”
His history with Warne