After suffering two injuries within the space of three months, Brandon Thomas-Asante made his return to first-team football last Saturday and after getting a taste of life under Paul Tisdale - he can’t wait to get back on the pitch once again.
The Academy Graduate missed the closing stages of the 2017-18 campaign due to an ankle injury and after a bright start in pre-season, Thomas-Asante suffered another blow when he came off injured against St Neots Town during the off-season.
After weeks of recovery and rehabilitation alongside the Medical and Sports Science Departments Thomas-Asante was handed his first appearance of the season when he replaced Ryan Watson with 20 minutes left to play.
With the score at 1-0, it was a huge vote of confidence from Tisdale - and now the youngster is looking to repay his manager.
"I just need to thank the manager so much for having the faith in me and giving me the experience. He's been a player himself so understands us and the different feelings that I'll go through on a day-to-day basis. He really understands the players and I really appreciate him.
"The little setbacks that I've had they are kind of like experiences that I can learn from in the future and help me focus on different things - I want to start building on from here.
"It feels so good to be back out there, be in front of the fans and get a taste of the atmosphere again. Things like that motivate you to keep on going and get more and more minutes throughout the season."
Thomas-Asante was full of praise for Tisdale and noted that the manager has been like a breath of fresh air at Stadium MK.
"Everyone has confidence in each other and I think that's something Tis has given us since day one. He really got all of us working together, all the new signings have been working together well and we are really starting to gel, now we need to continue pushing on.
"We can keep on going now, we've set a level for ourselves, three goals is good but we know we have the ability to score more goals and that's the sort of message we should be sending out towards the rest of the league."
Next up for MK Dons is tonight's clash Checkatrade Trophy clash with Luton Town, a competition that Thomas-Asante looks at as a chance to impress.
"Any minutes I can get is perfect for me - I'm eager to keep on playing and getting momentum going - hopefully in midweek I can put in a shift. These games in the Checkatrade, people weren't really sure about the competition but it's a really good competition to get minutes."
He concluded, "I think even though that it's in a different competition our momentum can carry through so it's important we take it seriously. I don't know how other teams treat it but we are looking to get a result."
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Paul Tisdale and MK Dons travel to The Abbey Stadium this Saturday to take on Cambridge United in their next Sky Bet League Two encounter.
Tickets are priced at £20 adults, £15 concessions/wheelchair users and only £1 under-18s while under-5s go FREE, if bought in advance of matchday from MK Dons. Tickets purchased on the day of the game at The Abbey Stadium will be subject to a price increase.
Travel is available for this fixture at a price of just £13 Season Ticket holders and £14 all other supporters. Coaches will depart Stadium MK at 12 noon.
To book tickets/travel click HERE, visit the Box Office at Stadium MK or call 0333 200 5343. Tickets will remain on sale from 5pm on Friday 12th October.
