Pearson and Mandaric

By Oli
February 26 2009

Dons hope to welcome back two key faces in Sean O'Hanlon and Luke Chadwick for Saturday's top of the table clash, with only long-term absentee Danny Swailes definitely sidelined.

Midfielder Chadwick could be a huge player for the Dons on Saturday and took part in some of Thursday's training, coming through unscathed. O'Hanlon, who was fit enough for inclusion on the bench last Saturday against Tranmere, should be ready to return to the starting eleven if selected after shaking off a hip injury. That will hand some interesting selection decisions to manager Roberto Di Matteo, with Jude Stirling and Miguel Llera coping well without the Dons vice-captain.

Like the Dons, Leicester are missing an important defender long-term with Alex Tunchev out for the rest of the season. Liverpool loanee Jack Hobbs, also a centre-back, is missing through suspension after being sent off against Bristol Rovers last Saturday, so young defender Michael Morrison should partner Hull loanee Wayne Brown at the back. Former Dons goalkeeper David Martin, who is on loan at the Foxes from Liverpool, remains sidelined so former Northampton 'keeper and Blackburn loanee Mark Bunn will continue in goal.

In midfield captain Matt Oakley is a doubt, but otherwise Leicester will have a full midfield and attack to choose from, aside from Stephen Clemence who has been injured all season.

Leicester are on a run of form which the Dons might take encouragement from, with only one win in their previous four matches. They have lost none of those four however, and have indeed not suffered defeat in the league since October 28th, when they were beaten 2-3 by Brighton, setting a club record of games unbeaten in the process.

After the usual poor January, the Dons have got a bit of form back with three wins and a draw from their last four matches, the draw a very respectable point at home specialists Tranmere last weekend. Second place is currently held by a point over Peterborough, although we have two games in hand, and we're sitting 12 behind Leicester, again with two games in hand. In short, a Dons loss means we're playing for second, but a win? Maybe we can make things a little bit nervy for the Foxes.

For teams that have only played against each other once (Dons' 0-2 loss at the Walkers Stadium on the opening day of the current campaign), there are a fair few links between the sides. Former player-coach Junior Lewis has spent time in Leicester while Reading loanee Jonny Hayes is currently on the club's books. More prominently Lloyd Dyer, who became a very popular figure in Milton Keynes during his two-year spell at the club, has started every league game this season for Leicester after moving on a free transfer in the summer. As earlier mentioned, goalkeeper David Martin has spent the season on loan at Leicester, after moving to Premier League giants Liverpool for a six-figure sum in January 2006.

Managerially there has also been a bit of activity between the two clubs. In the summer of 2007 Martin Allen left the Dons after finishing 4th in League Two to join Leicester in the Championship, but lasted just four games due to a breakdown in his relationship with chairman Milan Mandaric.

Just last summer, before his departure to Blackburn, Mandaric made an approach to bring Paul Ince to the Walkers Stadium, but was turned down by Dons chairman Pete Winkelman.

The referee for Saturday's game will be Mr Andy Penn, who is yet to officiate a Dons match this season but oversaw last season's 1-1 home draw with Rotherham United. This season Mr Penn has given out 48 yellow cards and three red cards in 22 matches. He will be assisted by Mr L Betts and Mr M D Rowley, with Mr W Atkin acting as fourth official.