Milton Keynes Dons

Karl Robinson’s side players returned home on Thursday having spent close to two weeks near the Irish capital taking part in fitness training as well as three friendly matches against local opposition.

“It’s been good. There has been a lot of team bonding and a lot of hard-work done throughout the two weeks.

“This was my fourth year and the stuff Damo gives us just gets harder and harder each year but I think this year we’ve beaten all the statistic s so it’s been good.”

The intense tour wrapped up with a friendly against Irish Premier Division side Bray Wanderers in County Wicklow on Wednesday evening, a match the Dons won 2-1 despite falling behind in the first-half.

Second-year scholar Kyran Wiltshire equalised for Robinson’s men close to the hour-mark before Powell netted the winner in the 89th minute, rounding the keeper before calmly slotting into an empty net from a tight angle.

He added: “The main thing in these games is getting the fitness but a win’s a win at the end of the day. A couple of the boys at the end of the first half weren’t too happy with going in 1-0 down but the second group of lads luckily pulled it back.

“It’s been a while since I’d scored so it was nice, personally to do so but I think they were getting a bit tired late on and they couldn’t keep up!”

This Saturday will mark the three-week countdown to the Dons’ Sky Bet League 1 opener against Gillingham at stadiummk but Powell says he is in tip-top condition and will be ready and raring to go on 9th August.

“Everyone will always have more stuff to work on but me, personally, I feel good and the fittest I’ve ever been so I just can’t wait for the season to start now,” the 23-year-old said.