Having put 18 months of injury hell behind him this summer, Mitch's career starts all over again in 2008/09, though things could have been so different.

In recovering from a double leg-and-ankle break that specialists compared more to something seen in a car accident than on a football pitch, Mitch showed incredible depths of courage and professional determination make a sooner-than-predicted return against Reading in pre-season.

Now focused on rediscovering the tenacious, energetic form that made him a Cowshed favourite and repaying the faith the Club has shown in him, this season will be one of the biggest in the Mancunian midfielder's career.

Mitch began his career as a scholar with Wigan Athletic where he also enjoyed loan spells with Halifax, Swindon and the Dons, before moving to Milton Keynes permanently in the summer of 2005.

Had he not have been a footballer, Paul could easily have followed a career in boxing, for which he enjoys a passion.