MK Dons v Brentford preview

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MK Dons will be without Dele Alli against the Bees.

Alli is nursing an ankle knock following the defeat to Port Vale on Friday and the highly-rated teenager will sit it out on Monday.

Alli will be joined on the sidelines by winger Sanmi Odelusi, who had to come off injured after just 31 minutes at Vale Park, while Monday’s match looks like it may come too soon for defender Antony Kay (thigh).

Due to the number of injuries in his squad, Dons boss Karl Robinson was forced to switch from his recognised 4-2-3-1 formation to a less familiar 3-2-3-2 shape on Friday and move Alan Smith to centre-back. Smith will probably continue there if Kay is not fit.

Adam Forshaw returns to the Brentford squad for the trip to the Dons.

The midfielder, recently named League One player of the year, missed Friday’s promotion-sealing win over Preston through suspension following a red card at Swindon last weekend.

Winger Sam Saunders is close to returning following knee surgery but with Championship football next season now secured boss Mark Warburton need not take any risks with his players’ fitness.

Jake Reeves, Harlee Dean and Will Grigg could earn recalls if Warburton opts to make changes.

MK Dons v Brentford preview

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MK Dons’ injury problems are mounting.

Manager Karl Robinson’s squad will be stretched to the limit as five senior players miss out through injury.

Right-back James Tavernier (knee) and fellow defender Gary MacKenzie (neck) were already sidelined for the visit of Carlisle on Tuesday night.

Centre-half Mathias Kouo-Doumbe filled in for Tavernier but was forced off after 68 minutes with a groin injury. Midfielder Luke Chadwick then dropped into the back line but he too had to come off seven minutes later with a knee problem.

Striker Dean Bowditch is also nursing a groin injury following the Carlisle defeat.

Adam Chicksen is expected to return to the first team as cover in defence while midfielders Alan Smith and James O’Shea and striker Jabo Ibehre could also come into the reckoning for starting roles.

Brentford are set to be unchanged.

The Bees are on the verge of winning three consecutive games for the first time this season and manager Uwe Rosler will look to play the same side that won at Preston in midweek.

However, Rosler may decide to start on-loan striker Clinton Morrison ahead of 21-year-old Harry Forrester, to partner Clayton Donaldson.

Young midfielder Adam Forshaw has returned to parent club Everton after suffering a broken jaw, so Toumani Diagouraga will retain his place.

Fellow midfielder Marcus Bean should be available after missing Tuesday night’s victory through a knee injury but may have to be content with a place among the substitutes.

MK Dons v Brentford preview

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Angelo Balanta and Jabo Ibehre could return to the MK Dons squad.

Balanta replaced Ibehre at half-time during the impressive Carling Cup victory against Norwich but both strikers left Carrow Road nursing muscle strains. The duo missed the 1-0 league win over Stevenage on Saturday.

New signing Charlie MacDonald marked his debut with the winning goal against Boro and could keep his place in the side, with manager Karl Robinson keen to build up the striker’s fitness.

Adam Chicksen, Tom Flanagan, Daniel Powell, James O’Shea and George Baldock are options for Robinson should he wish to make changes but Mathias Kouo-Doumbe remains a long-term absentee with ankle ligament damage.

Shaleum Logan looks set to miss Brentford’s trip.

The former Manchester City full-back has visited specialists with the ankle injury which has sidelined him for the last two matches and the Bees are waiting to determine the extent of the damage.

Boss Uwe Rosler could make changes with Simon Moore getting a run out in goal, defender Marcel Eger and midfielder Marcus Bean pushing for starts and Mike Grella in line for a full debut in attack.

Midfielder Toumani Diagouraga is still on the sidelines with a knee injury and winger Kirk Hudson is a long-term absentee with a hip problem.

The Bees reached the final last season but lost 1-0 to Carlisle at Wembley.

MK Dons v Brentford preview

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MK Dons could hand a debut to midfielder Stephen Hughes.

The Scot has signed on loan from Norwich and could come into Karl Robinson’s side in place of Peter Leven, who sits out through suspension after he was sent off in the 2-2 draw at Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.

Centre-half Gary MacKenzie was also dismissed at Hillsborough and begins a two-match ban as he has already seen red this season.

The Dons have a ready-made replacement available as Sean O’Hanlon returns from a ban of his own to start.

Striker Sam Baldock is still out with his hamstring injury and on-loan QPR striker Angelo Balanta will be out of action until March with an ankle problem.

Brentford striker Charlie MacDonald is doubtful.

MacDonald went off with an ankle injury after falling awkwardly during Monday night’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy win at Exeter.

Caretaker boss Nicky Forster says he will not pick himself while he remains in charge so Nicholas Bignall, Robbie Simpson or Lewis Grabban will start in attack if MacDonald is ruled out.

On-loan Norwich midfielder Owain Tudur Jones was cup-tied for the Exeter game and he will be back in the squad, but winger Sam Wood is still recovering from a broken arm.

Forster appears to be in pole position to land the full-time manager’s job having overseen two wins in two matches since taking over from Andy Scott.