ratings updated 21 Oct 2026
Profile
Season stats
Full career & schedule →Domestic-league season · Milton Keynes Dons.
Performance data · by competition
| Competition | Apps | G | A | Min | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 League Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 99 | 6.7 |
Scout report
C. Nelson is a 33-year-old central defender at Milton Keynes Dons, enjoying a standout season — 1 goals and 0 assists in 8 appearances, a Season grade of 17, top 39% of League One centre-backs. On long-term scout potential he's rated 12.5, ranking 210th of 213 in the League One. A seasoned veteran, he has been a fringe squad member (33.1% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 4.73 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Nelson.
Judged on this season alone, Nelson graded 17 — a solid campaign that ranks top 40% of the 64 centre-backs in the League One, on 2 clean sheets and 4.73 defensive actions per 90.
Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 12 → 17). Over the 7 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2023/24.
On long-term talent our Rating reads 13, 62nd of 64 of the 64 centre-backs in the League One. At 33 Nelson is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 1.6 reflects that trajectory.
Past his 2023/24 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.
Output in context · Milton Keynes Dons finished 20th of 24 · a lower-table side
4.73 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 2 clean sheets across 8 appearances. Doing that for a lower-table side (20th of 24) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.
Strengths
- Defensive volume. 4.73 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.
Watch points
- Game time. Only 33.1% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
- Age curve. At 33, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
- Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.
Outlook
With a Rating of 12.5, Nelson carries the 62nd-highest potential of the centre-backs in the League One of 64 — though on just 8 appearances this season, so the standing rests on a small sample. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (4.73 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.7× and falling).
Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.
Season statistics
Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the League One with 600+ minutes this season.
Shooting
Passing
Possession
Defending
Yellow/red cards
Transfer news
No transfer news found for this player.
