Colin Todd fears MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman scuppered his bid to keep Aaron Wilbraham.

The big targetman helped City to three wins during his month's loan spell, which Todd hoped to extend for the rest of the season.

But when he finally got hold of Danny Wilson this morning, the under-fire Dons boss gave Todd the news he didn't want to hear - that Wilbraham would not be allowed to come back.

Todd said: "Unfortunately it was what I expected. When Aaron came here it was only for the month before Danny would review it and he's decided to keep him, which is to our detriment."

The League One basement dwellers lost their fourth game on the bounce at Port Vale on Tuesday and Todd believes Wilson could be feeling the heat from above to restore Wilbraham.

Todd said: "I think there might be a little bit of pressure there from the chairman. They have had some indifferent results and are not

scoring goals and the chairman may be wondering why they have let a striker go out."

Wilbraham has relished his five-game stint at Valley Parade and was keen to stay on for at least another month but now he won't get the opportunity.

Todd added: "Aaron has made it clear how much he has enjoyed playing at a club that have made him feel wanted. He has certainly helped us to pick up some very important wins.

"But it's Murphy's Law that when I bring players on loan here, we get them back into playing mode and they leave us. We seem to do all the work for other managers.

"It happened last season with Neil Roberts and Dele Adebola. We get these players positive again and motivated and then they move on."

But Todd has not ruled out the prospect of going back for Wilbraham in the summer, adding: "It all depends how things pan out. There's a lot of work to be done in the close season."

Wilbraham will go straight into the MK Dons squad at Oldham on Saturday. Meanwhile, Bobby Petta is set to return to the City ranks to face Brentford after reporting no ill effects from playing the full 90 minutes for the reserves at Rotherham.