Jason Pearce returned to training this week following three months on the sidelines.
Pearce’s abductor tendon tore away from the bone when he challenged for a header at Bradford in December.
A fit and functional Pearce will be a major boost for Karl Robinson in the closing weeks of the season.
Russell Slade put the 29-year-old Hillingdon born defender at the top of his shopping list in the summer.
Slade is a cautious manager whose strategy is based on a solid defence. Pearce is a warrior, an organiser, and has a major influence on his those around him.
He is a defensive rock in the Tony Adams/John Terry mould, the type of player that a manager can build a team around.
Pearce’s leadership qualities have been sorely missed in recent months, and it is no coincidence that the run of poor form happened during his absence.
Pearce captained Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Leeds before leading Wigan to the League One title last season.
It will be a few weeks before he is ready to return to the first team, but Pearce will be the rock which Robinson will build his 2017/18 team around.