MK Dons have clarified why two of their forward players have not featured in the club’s most recent pre‑season friendlies since returning from their training trip to Croatia.
Illness and a recurring ankle problem
Winger Nathaniel Mendez‑Laing and striker Aaron Collins were both absent from the matchday squads for fixtures against Tottenham, Arsenal and Wealdstone after the trip. The club said there is no significant cause for concern behind either absence.
Club staff confirmed that Mendez‑Laing, who had appeared in the opening friendly against Maidenhead United and scored in the game in Croatia against NK Istra, missed the recent games because of illness. Collins, by contrast, has been kept out by a recurrence of an ankle problem.
“The day before the Maidenhead game, Charlie Waller fell on Aaron and he tweaked his ankle - the same one which kept him out for a few weeks towards the end of last season.”
Precaution over playing surface and recovery plan
Assistant head coach Richie Barker explained that the coaching team considered the risks of playing Collins on the artificial playing surface used in one of the warm‑up matches. He said the ankle had been managed carefully to avoid reopening the old ligament problem and that Collins had been involved in training but was limited in his participation.
Barker indicated Collins was edging towards a return, noting it was a close call whether he would play in the Wealdstone match and suggesting the player could be in contention for the upcoming friendly at Barnet if he progressed through training sessions without setback.
What this means for supporters
Supporters should not read too much into the pair’s short‑term absences. The club’s public comments frame Mendez‑Laing’s issue as a transient illness and Collins’ situation as a managed rehabilitation of a known ankle complaint rather than a new long‑term injury.
- Nathaniel Mendez‑Laing: missed recent matches through illness; had played in earlier friendlies including in Croatia.
- Aaron Collins: recovering from an ankle tweak to the same ankle affected earlier in the season; being monitored and limited in training.
- Club position: cautious management to avoid aggravating a recurring issue; both players are not considered seriously injured.
| Player | Recent involvement | Reason for absence |
|---|---|---|
| Nathaniel Mendez‑Laing | Played against Maidenhead and in Croatia | Illness |
| Aaron Collins | Absent from friendlies | Recurring ankle tweak |
The pre‑season programme is intended to build minutes and sharpness ahead of the League Two campaign. The club has been rotating players across fixtures to provide game time for the squad and to protect those returning from previous knocks. Both Mendez‑Laing and Collins remain part of the manager’s plans, but their reintroduction will be paced to safeguard long‑term fitness.
Further updates on their availability are likely to be provided by the club in the lead‑up to the next scheduled friendly at Barnet and during the opening weeks of the season.
