New deal for evergreen Dean Lewington

Dean Lewington will play for a 20th season after penning a new contract with MK Dons.

The 36-year-old is the longest-serving player for a single club in the EFL, having played nearly 800 games for Dons since the club's inception.

Despite being shifted into the centre of defence this season, Lewington has proven once more to be the immovable object in Dons' line-up.

Speaking a few weeks ago, manager Russell Martin spoke of his desire to keep the skipper on beyond the end of this season, and this latest contract sees him extend until the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

"He's been great this season, he has earned his contract, he adds a lot on and off the pitch – he deserves it," said Martin. "We need to recognise when people perform well and we need to reward them within our structure.

"He's been phenomenally consistent, he's been great.

"We both agree he has played more than we thought he might this season but he has looked really strong physically. He's such a good footballer, I didn't realise how good he ws until I got here. He's performing in a different role than he has been doing in his 850-odd games or whatever it is! It shows how much of a clever footballer he is.

"He's a great example to the guys in the way he trains, performs week-in and week-out and he's reliable.

"There will be a time when he passes the baton on, but he is performing really well, deserves his place in the team and that new contract.

"You know exactly what you'll get out of him, when he's needed he'll be there and you can rely on him. You have players who aren't appreciated as much as they should be, they're player's players, who you know what you're going to get through good times and bad and he's one of those. He's a solid character and he's been great for us."