George Baldock is excited to come up against Oxford United this weekend – the side with which he enjoyed a successful loan spell during the first half of the 2015/16 campaign.
Baldock made 35 appearances for the U’s last season, playing a crucial role in their promotion to the third tier – the 23-year-old was named in the PFA League Two Team of the Year for his performances in an Oxford shirt.
“I’m really excited,” Baldock told REDDOT. “They’ve still got some players who were part of the promotion-winning side that I played with – it’s one I’m really looking forward to.
“I think it’s well documented how much I enjoyed it there. I wanted to get in the team here at MK Dons so it was all part of my development plan towards that. I needed to go off and learn my trade.
“Everything about it was brilliant, from the staff down to the players and the fans. I really enjoyed working under Michael Appleton and I learnt a lot from him – it couldn’t have gone better, really.”
He continued: “It will be good to see some familiar faces and I think it will be a really good game. They’ve picked up in recent weeks and we’re looking to kick on so I think it will be a really competitive game.”
Baldock’s excellent form at the Kassam Stadium earned him a Dons recall in February and the right-back went on to feature 15 times in the Championship – taking his season total to 50 appearances.
“The loan really helped me develop and that was the aim prior to it.
“For whatever reason, maybe because of a slight lack of experience at the position, the gaffer didn’t feel I was ready to play regularly here but he trusted me to go out and develop myself.
“I do feel a different player now, confidence-wise especially. My positioning has improved and all things like that.
“It just worked out quite well for me."
You can read the full interview with George Baldock in Saturday's edition of REDDOT, which will be available from sellers around the ground and the Box Office for just £3.
“I’m really excited,” Baldock told REDDOT. “They’ve still got some players who were part of the promotion-winning side that I played with – it’s one I’m really looking forward to.
“I think it’s well documented how much I enjoyed it there. I wanted to get in the team here at MK Dons so it was all part of my development plan towards that. I needed to go off and learn my trade.
“Everything about it was brilliant, from the staff down to the players and the fans. I really enjoyed working under Michael Appleton and I learnt a lot from him – it couldn’t have gone better, really.”
He continued: “It will be good to see some familiar faces and I think it will be a really good game. They’ve picked up in recent weeks and we’re looking to kick on so I think it will be a really competitive game.”
Baldock’s excellent form at the Kassam Stadium earned him a Dons recall in February and the right-back went on to feature 15 times in the Championship – taking his season total to 50 appearances.
“The loan really helped me develop and that was the aim prior to it.
“For whatever reason, maybe because of a slight lack of experience at the position, the gaffer didn’t feel I was ready to play regularly here but he trusted me to go out and develop myself.
“I do feel a different player now, confidence-wise especially. My positioning has improved and all things like that.
“It just worked out quite well for me."
You can read the full interview with George Baldock in Saturday's edition of REDDOT, which will be available from sellers around the ground and the Box Office for just £3.
