MK Dons youngster Callum Tripp has joined National League outfit Gateshead on loan.

The 18-year-old, who can play in defence or midfield, will spend the remainder of the season with the side from North East England.

Tripp had made 7 first team appearances for MK Dons this season, although only one of them came after the departure of Mike Williamson in September, with that appearance coming in the EFL Trophy in early October.

The defender has made 12 first team appearances overall for MK Dons, having made his first team debut in an EFL Trophy tie in 2022.

The move sees Tripp join a side currently sat 4th in the National League. The Heed are currently managed by Carl Magnay, who worked as part of Williamson’s coaching staff at MK Dons and briefly had a spell at Carlisle before being offered the Gateshead job in October when Rob Elliot left to take the Crawley job vacated by Scott Lindsey after he took the MK Dons job as a replacement Williamson.

MK Dons Sporting Director Liam Sweeting told the club’s official website that the move was intended to give Tripp more regular first team game time.

He said, “We have already seen first-hand the potential in Trippy when he comfortably stepped in and played at the start of the season, and we hope this loan opportunity will give him a run of games to further develop and showcase what he can do. 

“Gateshead is a club we know well, and we have a lot of trust in the people there, not least Carl Magnay who was with us as part of Mike’s backroom team and knows Callum well. 

“It is an excellent opportunity for Callum to join a National League side well in the hunt for promotion and we will be sure to closely monitor his progress”.