Angus has seen Robins implode while he pushes for Europa spot

himself. As a kid at Reading, he suffered from the bowel condition ulcerative col itis before being released by the club.

He was forced to drop down to non-league outfit Salisbury before earning a move to EFL side Barnsley.

Then in September 2019 he got the fright of his life when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

He faced two l i fe - sav ing operations before getting the allclear to get back on the pitch.

MacDonald’s mental strength is as impressive as his performances for the Dons so far.

He said: “Getting released by Reading after 10 years and playing for England youths – when

Manchester United had scouted me – that was a big blow.

“Having to drop down to nonleague was a kick in the teeth.

“But that shows the type of character and personality I have.

“It’s tough for young lads when they get released because suddenly they don’t have the nice pitches and changing rooms anymore.

“You don’t have the security of a big club behind you. It’s not easy.

“But it has stood me in good stead for the stuff that challenged me later in my career.

“Dealing with the cancer seems a bit of a blur now but it was tough.

“It was even tougher on my family because they didn’t know what the outcome would be.

“My mum and dad just saw me lying there in a hospital bed.

“But I had the focus of getting back on the pitch again, which made it a little bit easier for me.

“At 15 I was actually told by a doctor that I’d never play football again.

“So having my dreams shot down meant I probably didn’t tell people or doctors when I had symptoms.

“Luckily, I was diagnosed early and I’ve come through the other side.

“So I don’t get too low or too high now with football. I try to stay level-headed.

“If we get beaten, it’s not the end of the world.

“Before, I would go home and not speak to the family if we’d lost 1- 0 or if I’d played badly.

“But it has probably changed my