Team News From The MK Dons Camp

Last updated : 20 August 2010 By Thetashkentterror

Stephen Gleeson
Dubliner Stephen Gleeson spoke to the MK Citizen ahead of his side's game against Carlisle at Brunton Park tomorrow, Gleeson hoping to banish memories of a 5-0 defeat in Cumbria last season


" We don't have great memories from last season. Everyone who played wants to put that right. It's not a great trip up there, but we will prepare properly. We want to do them over this time, because they gave us a battering last year.

" The season has gone really well so far. The way the gaffer (Karl Robinson) has got us playing is really good and I think we were convincing in the win over Walsall, although the goal we conceded wasn't good from our perspective.

" The two games against the Premier League teams in pre-season were tough but I thought I did OK against Walsall. I did play at right-back once in a reserve game, but I've really enjoyed playing there this season. I'm nowhere near the finished article though. I'll play at left-back, centre-back, and anywhere really. I'm enjoying playing at the moment.

" Dan Woodards has been a great help to me and Sean O'Hanlon has a lot of experience at the back. But I went away with Ireland in the week and was in midfield mode again and I've come back and started playing at right-back again. So I'm just getting used to playing in both roles at the moment. After last season and all the injuries and suspensions, I need to nail down a regular spot. "

 


Meanwhile striker Jermaine Easter commented to the Dons official site :

" It's been a decent start, but I don't think we've hit top form yet by any means. The two goals we have conceded have been from set-pieces and, in my opinion, the one at Walsall was a great header and the free-kick against Dagenham was just as good.

" Often we talk about what we could have done better, but sometimes you just have to hold your hands up. We haven't hit the top of our game yet, I'm sure we've got another few gears in us and if we get things right as a team this year I think we can have a good season. "

 


In team news for the MK Dons, who were out of action last weekend after their scheduled game at Southampton was postponed due to the death of Saints owner Markus Liebherr, they are without four players ahead of the game. Defenders Gary MacKenzie, Pedro Pele and Jude Stirling being sidelined with respective knee, thigh and groin injuries, while striker Aaron Wilbraham is out with a back problem, MacKenzie and Wilbraham having just returned to light training this week.

In better news for Dons boss Karl Robinson though, French-born centre-half Mathias Kouo-Doumbe is available once more for the Buckinghamshire outfit after being suspended for the first two games of the season, while former Wolves midfielder Stephen Gleeson is also back in the squad.

Gleeson having been away on international duty with the Republic of Ireland when the Dons last played, that being their 2-1 home Carling Cup win against Dagenham ten days ago. The two players tomorrow wearing a new red away strip for the first time this season that was produced by Australian company ISC.

 


The referee for tomorrow's match is Mark Haywood from Leeds, and he will be assisted down the lines by two County Durham men in Simon Clayton from Newton Aycliffe and Barry Gordon from Chester-le-Street. Meanwhile the fourth official is Richard Clark from Morpeth in Northumberland.