Alexander in no hurry to rush Dons into pre-season games

MK Dons are still a little over a week away from playing their first pre-season game, but Graham Alexander is happy to wait before his side kick their first ball in anger this summer.

After their first week in pre-season training, the new boss said he has barely scratched the surface with his plans for the squad.

And while their opening pre-season encounter with Wealdstone is next week (Tuesday July 11), Alexander admitted he was pleased not to have a game quite so early in his side’s preparations for the new season.

Asked whether he was eager to play the first game, he said: “Not for me - there is too much work to do on the training pitch. If there had been a game this week, I think it would have bugged me and I'd have knocked it on the head.

“We won't want to disappoint other clubs by cancelling games though, so I'm glad we've got a few weeks to work on things.

“Sometimes, pre-season games get in the way a little bit, and can break up the rhythm. I'm happy with our games programme, despite it being set before I got here. I didn't want to add to it or take away from it. When we get to the first game, we want to see an identity forming, but it won't be complete.

“We've been able to have a 11v11 game in training, so everyone gets an opportunity to play. And it allows us to control the tempo too, because in some friendlies, the game can go flat.”