Profile
Season stats
Full career & schedule →Domestic-league season · Milton Keynes Dons.
Injury-affected season
Missed 16 of Milton Keynes Dons's ~46 games this season through 16 injury absences (knee, torn knee ligaments, inactive). He still appeared 18 times — a solid return given how little of the season he was available. His rating is judged mainly on the games he was fit to play.
Performance data · by competition
| Competition | Apps | G | A | Min | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 League Two | 18 | 2 | 1 | 1455 | 7.19 |
 Championshipat Derby | 2 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 6.7 |
Scout report
C. Nelson is a 33-year-old central defender at Milton Keynes Dons, enjoying a standout season — 2 goals and 1 assists in 18 appearances, a Season grade of 19, top 45% of League Two centre-backs. On long-term scout potential he's rated 11.6, ranking 416th of 478 in the League Two. A seasoned veteran, he has been a rotation option (53.9% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.41 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 19 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 34th of 76 of the 76 centre-backs in the League Two, on 5 clean sheets and 2.412 defensive actions per 90.
Year-on-year, that's a drop on last season (Season 26 → 19). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2023/24.
On long-term talent our Rating reads 12, 59th of 76 of the 76 centre-backs in the League Two. At 33 Nelson is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 0.7 reflects that trajectory.
Read the appearance count in context: Nelson missed 16 games through injury (knee, torn knee ligaments, inactive) out of roughly 46 this season. The 18 he did play is a solid return on the time he was fit, and his ratings are weighted toward those games rather than the ones he sat out injured.
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 2nd of 24 · a title-challenging side
2.41 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 5 clean sheets across 18 appearances. Behind a title-challenging side (2nd of 24) the side controls more games, so the defensive load is lighter — the value sits as much in composure and ball progression as in raw volume. Going forward he chipped in 2 goals and 1 assist — a useful bonus from the back.
Strengths
- Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.19 goal involvements per 90, useful for a central defender.
Watch points
- Game time. Only 53.9% 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 11.6, Nelson carries the 59th-highest potential of the centre-backs in the League Two of 76. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.41 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.
Transfer news
No transfer news found for this player.
