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Matt O’Riley could not have dreamed of a smoother beginning to life away from Craven Cottage.
Having chosen to reject a three-year professional contract at Fulham in 2020, one that would have primarily seen him spend his time playing development football in their under 23s alongside a handful of fleeting chances in their cup competition rotation sides, the 21-year-old decided to move up the M1 to Milton Keynes and jump into the deep end, starting at MK Dons.
After spending a good few weeks training with the first team squad, the former England youth international eventually put pen to paper on a contract and the starlet has not looked back.
The commanding central midfielder oozes class when in control of the ball, seemingly having more time and awareness than all others on the field.
This trait has seen him excel within his spell at the Dons, progressing in just over 20 months from a back-up option on arrival to virtually the first name on the team sheet, as well as being given the captain’s armband on several occasions.
Although naturally left-footed, O’Riley is comfortable with the ball on either side and can deliver a full repertoire of passes to anywhere across the field, whether that be playing through to the forwards or onto on-running wing backs with consummate ease.
Not only does the man being courted by England, Norway and Denmark for international honours possess a masterful eye for a pass, he also is very astute in his defensive duties and has on more than one occasion helped to bail out his defensive colleagues.
His match-awareness and positioning when tracking back to cover the space, mainly when his side is pressing higher up the field and get caught on the counter, to being adept when attempting slide tackles at pace, knowing anything slightly mistimed will see the referee have to take action.
A real “triple-threat” footballer, the 21-year-old is also lethal in the attacking area and has managed to bag seven goals already this season. Whether it is arriving late into the penalty area to get onto the end of crosses or firing off a long-range effort trying to catch the opposition keeper off-guard, he has managed to accomplish on more occasions than not, most recently sealing a 1-0 victory with a cultured finish against bitter rivals AFC Wimbledon.
It was rumoured on Transfer Deadline Day back in September that an eleventh-hour approach from Championship outfit Blackpool was quashed, it was to no-surprise that a player with the qualities and skills O’Riley possesses would seek interest from those higher up the footballing pyramid.
Now three months later, the rumours have continued, and off the back of scoring a decisive strike away at Lincoln City on Boxing Day, the links and list of suitors increased and intensified. However, this time around clubs with more pulling power than the aforementioned Tangerines have entered the race to try and sign the young starlet.
The persistent noise came initially from South Wales and Swansea City, and it was to no great surprise given the links between the Swans and the Dons.
In the last six months, not only has ex-manager Russell Martin moved westerly from Milton Keynes but he was also joined by nine of his coaching staff, recruitment department and analytical setup. To top it all off, goalkeeper Andrew Fisher, 24 hours prior to the seasonal derby and arguably most important fixture of the season, at home against AFC Wimbledon has also joined Martin in South Wales.
Away from the Swansea.com Stadium, O’Riley remains a name on the lips of teams in Serie A as well as the Bundesliga and should any move take place, it would likely need the Dons to be offered a hefty sum. The early suggestions see the figure starting at the million-pound mark and only going higher.
It is evident that O’Riley plays a vital and crucial cog in the system that Liam Manning, MK Dons manager, chooses to operate with. Preferring to operate with a fast-paced possession-based philosophy, this relies heavily on hard-working central midfielders and high-intensity wing backs.
Able to dominate ball retention and keep the relentless movement of the football going, O’Riley has transformed his responsibilities within the setup in such a short space of time.
Alongside loanee Ethan Robson in the heart of midfield, the pair became almost un-droppable during a run that saw the team rise to third in the League One table, keeping players such as Joshua McEachran and David Kasumu waiting in the wings.
When Robson picked up his unfortunate knock, it opened the door for Kasumu to seize his chance and the couple have not looked back, forming another stellar pairing. Kasumu’s rugged, combative style perfectly compliments O’Riley who provides the flair and charisma, something you rarely find in the third-tier.
Given the career trajectory that appears to be on the table for O’Riley, he could now start being looked upon by those higher than Swansea or Blackpool.
The best bit of business that MK Dons could find themselves completing in the January transfer window could well be keeping hold of their number seven, no matter how unlikely it seems.
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