McNamee has a point to prove at MK Dons

MK Dons boss Karl Robinson believes Anthony McNamee, his new free transfer signing from Norwich City has a point to prove with the League One leaders.

The 27-year-old left Carrow Road in the closing minutes of the August transfer window along with Stephen Hughes and Cody McDonald as Paul Lambert looked to offload some of his fringe players. Robinson is now challenging the former Swindon flyer to get his career back on track after failing to force his way into Lambert's Premier League plans.

'People have to be very patient with Anthony because he hasn't played any football for a while,' said Robinson, who masterminded his side's recent Carling Cup success over the Canaries. 'He's not even kicked a ball in anger so he's come here to prove a point, he's been promoted out of this league, he contributed to Norwich getting out of the Championship so we've got a player who knows this level.

'He's going to have to get himself fit and he's determined to get back to where he was 12 months ago and that was destroying defences with his pace, guile and quality on the ball. He's a very gifted footballer, a unique one who is different to any one we have got in the team and he adds strength in depth and gives me options in games.'

Robinson revealed the Dons had tracked McNamee over the summer before finally completing a one year deal with the option of an additional year.

'Anthony is another one we looked at in the summer, but we couldn't afford to get it done then,' he said. 'Now with Sam (Baldock) moving on we have been able to bring in Charlie MacDonald, and I know I'm going to get goals out of him, I know I've got creative players in the team who all have something special but what I lack is someone with that dynamic pace and that is something that he has. He gives us that ability to run in behind, he will strengthen our final third.'

Meanwhile, Yeovil chief Terry Skiverton revealed yesterday the Glovers failed in a deadline day bid for Oli Johnson. Skiverton confirmed the League One club were unable to match City's valuation for the back up striker who spent five months on loan at Huish Park last season.

'It was a frustrating day. I tried to sign two players but we did not get there. We went for Oli Johnson of Norwich but could not get him and the other was Conor Clifford of Chelsea as I went to watch them the other night,' he said. 'We went down the permanent route (for Johnson) but we could not get close enough to Norwich's evaluation and we missed out.'

Johnson could still return to the west country with the emergency loan market re-opening next week.