A DON DEAL TO BAG PETER
MK DONS have failed to hit the heights in League One this season – but they’re determined to put that right next term.
And they’ve taken a big step towards that by signing a pre-contract agreement with Aberdeen midfielder Peter Pawlett.
The 26-year-old will stay at Pittodrie for this season and then move south on a two-year deal in the summer.
MK Dons manager Robbie Neilson knows all about Pawlett from his time in charge at Hearts and is delighted to have recruited him.
“He’s had a really good career in Scotland and played a lot of games at a real high level,” said Neilson.
“He’s direct, quick and makes things happen. He’s the type of player I think we need. Hopefully, he can come down and replicate the good performances he’s had up at Aberdeen.”
Hull-born Pawlett moved to Aberdeenshire as a child and has spent his whole career with the Dons, apart from a loan spell at St Johnstone.
It means the former Scotland Under-21 international will be playing south of the border for the first time in his career – and he’s eager to get started.
“I think it’s the right time in my career to come down to England,” he said.
“As soon as I heard of the interest, I knew this was where I wanted to be. This is a great club with a great stadium and it was a huge attraction for me. The ambition and potential here is huge so, hopefully, we can really progress. I’m looking forward to it.”
Challenge
MK Dons would have been expected to challenge for promotion this term following their relegation from the Championship, but they never hit top gear and long-serving manager Karl Robinson, now in charge at Charlton Athletic, was sacked in October.
In early December, Neilson was appointed manager and his first league game in charge ended in a 1-0 home win against bitter rivals AFC Wimbledon.
The teams meet for the first time at Kingsmeadow on Tuesday and there’s likely to be a lively atmosphere.
Before the weekend, MK Dons were 15th in the table, two places and four points behind AFC Wimbledon, the club set up by fans when the original Wimbledon were controversially allowed to move to Milton Keynes by the FA in 2002.