The perfect Christmas for Lewis Johnson

Most 16-year-olds were able to have a mince pie or two on Christmas Day, but not MK Dons' Lewis Johnson.

The teenager was strict on himself after he was told by Dons manager Russell Martin he would be not only on the bench for the Boxing Day game against Bristol Rovers, but that he would also be handed his league debut.

Johnson has already played a handful of games for the club in the Papa John's Trophy, but became the 250th player to pull on a Dons shirt in league competition when he replaced Cameron Jerome with 21 minutes to go during the 2-0 win over the Gas.

Johnson said: "He told me to be ready because I'd be in the squad, and he told me before the game that he wanted me to come on. I stayed off the mince pies on Christmas Day!

"I want to keep pushing on, improving and be involved in more wins. It was the perfect result and a perfect Christmas.

"It was a really good experience to play and help contribute to the win. Russ told me I deserved to be out there, I'd worked hard in training and to go out there and express myself.

"I knew what the manager and team expected of me, so I was able to do that again today."