Midfielder Stephen Gleeson is looking forward to making a return to action this weekend, when MK Dons take on FC Halifax Town in the FA Cup with Budweiser.
Gleeson, 25, pulled his calf muscle in the 3-2 win over Rotherham United three weeks ago and the talented Irishman has been sidelined ever since, missing the clashes Carlisle United, Tranmere Rovers and most recently Walsall.
Now back in training, Gleeson has been given the green light ahead of this weekend and he hopes to mark his return to action by helping the Dons book their place in the Second Round of the country’s most prestigious cup competition.
Speaking ahead of the match, the former Wolves trainee said: “I’m really looking forward to Saturday because it’s been a long and frustrating few weeks.
“I felt really good in the Rotherham United game, took part in all three of the goals but then pulled my calf in the 90th minute. It was a hard one to take having played all the game.
“There wasn’t too long a period where I wasn’t able to be out training. I spent the first week getting treatment on my calf but then in the second week I was out with Simon and working with Dele.
“It was a frustrating injury but fortunately it wasn’t like my one last season where I couldn’t do anything for six to seven weeks. This one was only really eight days so it’s not too bad.
“I was in contention to come back last Saturday but having seen what happened with Dave (Martin), it was probably right to rest it for this weekend.”
It’ll be the second time in as many seasons the Dons will have to navigate their way past a non-League side in the opening round of The FA Cup with Budweiser, having faced Cambridge City in the early stages last year.
Gleeson, though, is fully aware of the danger they Shaymen will pose and insists he and his team-mates do not want to be on the receiving end of a Cup upset.
“We’ve been part of big upsets before and we don’t want to be on the receiving end of one of them this Saturday” he added.“We’ve caused upsets before and we’ve also been upset. If we’re not on our game or giving 100 percent, FC Halifax Town will have a chance. It’s their Cup final so they have everything to gain.”
