Thompson's injury concerns held him back during first Dons spell

After a long-term injury, Louis Thompson admitted he was more concerned with coming through games unscathed than he was with playing well earlier this year.

The on-loan Norwich midfielder provided only glimpses of what he was capable of during his first loan spell at Stadium MK, arriving from Carrow Road in January after a patchy spell at Shrewsbury.

Coming back from long-term injury issues, Thompson made nine appearances for Dons before the season was curtailed. His return was not met with as much fanfare as that of his Norwich team-mate Carlton Morris, but his ever-improving performances in the midfield engine room are starting to show why Russell Martin had the faith to bring him back.

But those indifferent performances during his first spell are something which played on Thompson's mind, particularly during the first lockdown period and he puts it down to his worries of getting injured again.

"January was a tough period for me," he admitted. "I had a lot going on. I'd had a lot of injuries and a lot going through my head. I think the struggles I had showed in my performances. I was not necessarily focussing on playing well, but getting through each game.

"Lockdown allowed me to become pain-free and not to worry about my body but to concentrate on my performances and I think that has shown this season. I'm in a much better place than I was and I hope that can continue both personally and as a team."

Having started to overcome his concerns over injuries though, Thompson missed the start of the season when he picked up ankle problems in the game against Arsenal.

"I like a tackle, I like to disrupt the opposition, so I could accept that injury," he continued. "The others I was suffering, muscle injuries, are tougher but I was really happy with how I started pre-season and I hope it continues."

Thompson isn't the only battling midfielder on Dons' books though, with David Kasumu continuing to impress in the centre of the park. Kasumu's love for a battle though has seen him booked eight times in 11 appearances though, already serving a one-game suspension for a cumulation of yellow cards.

Thompson said of him: "I think every team needs that kind of player and David has started the season really well. He's worked hard over lockdown and has come into a midfield which is extremely competitive.

"We know our performance levels have to be high and that can only be healthy. Hopefully we can push each other on and get the results we deserve, and if we're pulling in the right direction we can start climbing the table."