Peterborough boss Luke Williams reflected on his time at Stadium MK ahead of his return this Saturday

Luke Williams admitted a lot of his time as MK Dons assistant manager was spent on a rescue mission.

Now a manager in his own right at Peterborough, after spells in charge of Swansea City and Notts County, Williams arrived at Stadium MK as Russell Martin’s number two in 2019, tasked with the job of keeping the club in League One following Paul Tisdale’s dismissal.

When the pandemic hit, Dons kept their third tier status on points-per-game, sparking a big rebuild over the summer. While things did not click immediately, until early 2021 really, Williams said the challenges he faced at the club left a lasting impression on him.

Speaking ahead of his return to MK1 with Posh this Saturday, he said: “I know the club well, I enjoyed my time working there very much. They are going really well, they got a promotion and have been really ambitious in the transfer market again.

“It was a difficult time being there during Covid. It was enjoyable at the same time, the season before, when I joined, it was really tough being in 22nd position in the league so that was a rescue mission and we built something pretty good.

“It is a club geared up for bigger and better things. From what I gather, there has been a fresh push. Pete Winkelman is one of the most genius people I have ever met and what he was been able to do was mindblowing. That was really impressive.

“Someone has now come in fresh and trying to make another push. Some of the training facilities have really improved so it’s a club geared up for bigger and better things.”

Peterborough head to Stadium MK level on points (4) with Dons after five games. Both sides feel their performances have deserved more than their returns on the board show, and Williams is not blind to that.

“It’s going to be a really tough game but we are certainly looking forward to it,” he said. “I am sure their difficult start won’t last forever, they have got good management and good facilities there to play football.

“Hopefully it’s not too soon but I’m sure they are going to pick up more victories.”