It was smiles all round for Mark Randall following Tuesday’s 4-1 Final Third Development League Cup win over Cambridge United.
The classy midfielder played the full game, scored a cheeky penalty and set-up one of Kabongo Tshimanga’s two goals, while he was also impressed with the Academy players.
“The most important thing for the first-team boys was to get some minutes under their belts,” he told MK Dons Player.
“It’s massively important for the younger lads to play competitive football – I remember when I was their age, it was a big thing playing with some of the first-team players. I think it spurs them on to do even better.
“I’ve been really impressed with them – when they’ve trained with us and played in games like this, they’ve done well.”
He added: “Everyone is playing for their own reasons when they play in games like this. Everyone knows the manager is going to come and he watches the games carefully. If you do well, I think you’ll get a chance.”
Randall put the Dons 3-1 up with a Panenka-style penalty, dinking the ball down the middle as the U's keeper dived to his left. “I’ve done it a few times before, but we’ll have to wait and see if I do it in a big game,” he joked.
“The most important thing for the first-team boys was to get some minutes under their belts,” he told MK Dons Player.
“It’s massively important for the younger lads to play competitive football – I remember when I was their age, it was a big thing playing with some of the first-team players. I think it spurs them on to do even better.
“I’ve been really impressed with them – when they’ve trained with us and played in games like this, they’ve done well.”
He added: “Everyone is playing for their own reasons when they play in games like this. Everyone knows the manager is going to come and he watches the games carefully. If you do well, I think you’ll get a chance.”
Randall put the Dons 3-1 up with a Panenka-style penalty, dinking the ball down the middle as the U's keeper dived to his left. “I’ve done it a few times before, but we’ll have to wait and see if I do it in a big game,” he joked.
