MK Dons beat Northampton Town 3-2 in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy (EFL Trophy) on Tuesday evening, a game in which 12 either current or former apprentices were involved, with six players making their professional debuts.
The final group stage clash saw maiden career starts for both Joel Anker and Charlie Waller, with the latter also scoring his first goal in senior football.
Two current apprentices, Albert Wood and Keon Lewis-Burgess, were also in from the start, both making their MK Dons debuts.
Then in the second half, second-year apprentice Charlie Stirland, 16-year-old Rian Silver, first-year scholar Josh Clark-Anderson and Chase Medwynter all came on to make their MK Dons professional bows.
Assistant Head Coach, Ian Watson said: “The young players came in and really stuck to our identity. I don’t think you could tell any difference from watching previous games in terms of how we want to set up and play the game, how we want to dominate the ball and hurt the opposition, so I thought everyone was outstanding and especially the younger players, they deserve a mention because they came in and handled themselves and did the other side of the game well as well. They fought, worked hard and battled which is really important. I thought they were outstanding.”
Northampton Town’s matchday squad also boasted eight current/former apprentices, with Reuben Wyatt also handed his first professional start.
