MK Dons midfielder Paul Mitchell has revealed that new manager Roberto Di Matteo has already provided a lift as he battles back from injury.Mitchell has been out since February 2007 with a horrific broken leg and ankle and was recently awarded a new contract until Christmas to prove his fitness.

Di Matteo endured his own 18-month battle with a triple leg-break before ultimately retiring at Chelsea in 2000, and Mitchell is delighted with his input.

He said: "The manager has been through a similar situation himself and he knows what I'm going through.

"He knows how long it takes to recover, he knows that the first bit is adrenaline-fuelled and now it's about getting into the everyday training.

"He gives me help and little pointers along the way so it's great to have somebody here who's been through what I'm going through."

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