Forgotten Aberdeen FC man faces 'difficult position' in MK Dons loan as boss explains situation

Former Aberdeen captain Anthony Stewart's woes on the pitch continue to get from bad to worse - with the centre back stuck in the doldrums in a loan spell at MK Dons.

Hopes were high when Jim Goodwin moved to bring the defender to Pittodrie on a free transfer from Wycombe Wanderers in the summer of 2022, with the Irishman immediately handing him the armband in the Granite City. However, Stewart struggled to win fans over with a string of poor displays, and sending's off against St Mirren in the Premiership and Rangers in the semi-final of the Viaplay Cup proved costly.

The 31-year-old's most recent Dons appearance came in a 6-0 hammering at the hands of Hibernian in January 2023, just days after the infamous Scottish Cup exit at the hands of junior side Darvel. Those damaging results ended up costing boss Goodwin his job, but also appears to have ended Stewart's short stint at Aberdeen.

Just days after Goodwin's dismissal, Stewart was shipped out on a loan deal to MK Dons for the remainder of the season after being told by new manager Barry Robson that he wasn't in his plans. But the Brixton-born player's troubles continued, with injury restricting him to just five appearances as the Stadium MK side were relegated to the English fourth tier.

Stewart returned to Pittodrie last summer for pre-season and despite making the bench in the opening weeks of the campaign, was once again frozen out by boss Robson. The 5ft 10" centre back rejoined MK Dons for another loan spell on a deal until the end of the current season, but a combination of injuries and a lack of form have seen him make just seven appearances, only one of which has came in 2024.

With his contract at Aberdeen up this summer, the centre back will be looking for