MK Dons head coach Paul Warne has admitted his side are down to the bare bones, with only 10 fit outfield players available in training this week.
The League Two outfit are battling a significant injury crisis ahead of their weekend trip to Shrewsbury Town, forcing Warne to rethink his options as key players remain sidelined.
Key absentees pile pressure on Warne
The Dons have already lost Gethin Jones, Kane Wilson and Aaron Collins to long-term injuries, while Nathan Thompson, Kane Thompson-Sommers, Joe Tomlinson and Jack Sanders are still weeks away from full fitness.
“It has been a tricky week, we only had 10 outfield players training on Tuesday,” he said. “There seems to be a lot of injuries at a lot of clubs, they’re more prevalent in modern football than I remember it.
“Luckily we’ll have Jon Mellish back next week, and Offy will be back as well (both suspended for Shrewsbury).”
Warne confirmed that defender Laurence Maguire is edging closer to full fitness after a productive week in training, but the head coach admitted the timing of recoveries has come too late to ease the problems for this Saturday.
Warne rues rotten luck
The 42-year-old, who previously managed Derby County, reflected on how rare it has been in his career to deal with so many simultaneous absences. He explained that injuries have ranged from hamstring and calf strains to a broken arm, with recovery times often stretching between eight and ten weeks.
“I had a similar one last season with a few defenders out and that was tricky,” Warne said. “This is disappointing. I’m not using it to get away from our form, which has not been great, but we’ve not been able to put out a regular team.
“They’re not just innocuous injuries, but all of them are eight to ten weeks, and I don’t know if we’ll see the right-backs again this year.”
Warne insisted the injuries have come from normal training sessions rather than unusual demands, adding a note of frustration to his preparations.
Writer’s View
MK Dons’ form has stuttered in recent weeks, and this injury crisis could hardly have come at a worse time. Warne faces the challenge of piecing together a competitive side without many of his senior players, and the pressure will be on those stepping in to prove they can deliver.
Shrewsbury have their own struggles, mainly being utterly rubbish, but the Dons’ lack of continuity and fitness issues could make this a far more difficult trip than it might have been under normal circumstances.
