MK Dons v Oldham preview

Team news for Saturday's League One clash between MK Dons and Oldham at stadium:mk.

MK Dons begin the new season without midfielder Stephen Gleeson.

Gleeson, one of last season's star performers for the Dons and named in the PFA team of the year for the 2011/12 campaign, will start a three-match suspension after the club's appeal against the red card he received against Cheltenham last weekend was turned down.

Further bad news from the Capital One Cup win at Whaddon Road for manager Karl Robinson sees him lose the versatile Shaun Williams (ankle) for around three weeks.

Recent signing Antony Kay, who replaced Williams at Cheltenham, is likely to come in at centre-half for his full debut.

Big summer arrival Alan Smith is a contender to fill the void left by Gleeson.

Defender Mathias Kouo-Doumbe is still not fit after suffering a knee problem during pre-season.

Oldham boss Paul Dickov is expected to stick with the same side that suffered Capital One Cup defeat at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday.

Jordan Slew and Jean-Yves Mvoto gave Latics a 2-0 half-time lead over last season's League One runners-up before being overwhelmed and going down to a 4-2 loss after the interval.

On-loan Blackburn youngster Slew was making his debut and is in line for his league bow at stadium:mk, with fellow strikers Daniel Taylor and Matt Smith most likely having to settle for a place among the substitutes.

An absence of injury problems comes as a boost for Dickov, who suffered a succession of fitness worries as Oldham trailed away after Christmas last season. The Scot only has 21 senior professionals at his disposal this time around.

That number could swell to 22 before the weekend after the former Manchester City striker revealed he had a "50/50" chance of bringing in a new recruit in the coming days.

The left-side of midfield is known to be a position Dickov would like to strengthen.