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Samir Carruthers is a target for MK Dons again after his last spell at the League One club was cut short by injury.

Carruthers spent half of last term on loan at Stadium MK before suffering a severe knee problem in February and returning to Bodymoor Heath to do his rehabilitation.

Notts County are believed to have sent scouts to watch the 21-year-old midfielder.

Carruthers was involved in Villa’s friendly victory over Mansfield and the defeat to Chesterfield, but he was not selected for the pre season tour in Texas, nor the trip to Holland for Saturday’s heavy defeat to Groningen.

MK Dons manager Karl Robinson admitted he may enquire about signing Carruthers permanently after the player’s car was spotted at Stadium MK following their friendly defeat at home to Leicester last night.

“Samir is someone I think is a top, top player,” Robinson told the Milton Keynes Citizen.

“I’m not going to rule it out, but I’m not going to tell you I’ve done a deal either. He’s someone I’d love to bring to the club on a permanent deal.

“And when you see the team tonight, and the number of young players, he’d certainly add quality.

“I know he was here, but nothing is done.

“I’ve got most of the players I want now though. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Carruthers, who is entering the final year of his Villa contract, has not played a competitive game under Paul Lambert and his only Premier League involvement with the claret and blues came with three brief substitute cameos towards the end of Alex McLeish’s season in 2011-12.

The former Arsenal trainee turned out 28 times for MK Dons last season, scoring twice.