Dean Lewington: Out-of-favour MK Dons captain training with Charlton

Dean Lewington signed a contract in the summer to continue playing but also to coach at MK Dons

MK Dons captain Dean Lewington is training with Charlton after falling out of favour at the League One side.

The 33-year-old left-back has played 652 times for the club, more than anyone else since they relocated and changed name from Wimbledon FC in 2002.

He has not started a league game since 7 October and is training with ex-boss Karl Robinson at the Addicks.

"I know it's controversial - I know it doesn't particularly look good," said MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman.

"But it's got an old manager talking to us again, it's got Dean somewhere he's comfortable getting fit and it's got (manager) Robbie Neilson now concentrating on his own thing without the diversion of that to have to be dealing with - so actually everyone's a winner."

He told the club website: "It's a typical Milton Keynes Dons solution. I know it's not normal but it works for us and most importantly it works for Dean Lewington."

Charlton manager Robinson, who spent more than six years in charge at Stadium MK, has told London News Online he will not be offering Lewington a deal at the club.

Lewington signed a two-year deal in the summer but Neilson says he will be leaving the club on loan in January.

"Dean feels that he can still play week in week out - I didn't think he could do that at the moment," Neilson told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"Hopefully he goes, plays his football and then we'll have a chat in the summer and decide whether he wants to continue playing or come back in and be part of the club again."