Aaron Collins made a surprising move last June, dropping a tier to sign for MK Dons after a prolific spell with Bolton Wanderers. The striker arrived with a reputation for finding the net, having been honoured as Bolton’s Player of the Year for the 2024/25 campaign after contributing 19 goals and five assists across 55 matches in all competitions. His transfer, which was confirmed after a medical check in Dubai following a holiday in Thailand and Bali, set a new club record for MK Dons at an estimated £800,000. The fee sparked optimism among supporters who expected Collins to deliver immediate impact in Sky Bet League Two.
However, the start to his Dons career was anything but smooth. In his very first home appearance on August 2 against Oldham, Collins suffered a broken shoulder.
"In the first game of the season I ended up breaking my shoulder," he recalled. "It should have been a penalty, but I didn’t get one, which made it even more frustrating. I played on thinking I’d just jarred it, then an X‑ray on Monday confirmed the fracture and I was out for six to eight weeks. It was a kick in the teeth because I felt that new‑club excitement and was 100 % ready to go." The injury sidelined him for six league fixtures and a Carabao Cup first‑round loss to Bristol City.
He made his return as a substitute in a 1‑1 draw at Chesterfield on September 13, and three days later celebrated a goal in a 5‑1 Vertu Trophy defeat to West Ham United’s under‑21 side. Yet misfortune struck again later that week when a hamstring pull forced him out for another two months.
"I’d never been in that situation before," Collins admitted. "I’d never had an injury that kept me out for more than a game or two. It was mentally draining.
I thought I could go through my whole career without being injured, but it happened and everything happens for a reason." During the long recovery, Collins found an unexpected silver lining. He said the forced pause allowed him to empathise with teammates who had endured similar setbacks, offering a fresh mental perspective that helped him stay grounded.
When he finally earned his first league start of the season – a match against Harrogate Town five days before Christmas – he repaid the faith with a brace in a 4‑0 victory. "The excitement came back," he said. "I thought this is the time to kick on and show why I’m here." By mid‑February Collins had enjoyed roughly three months of uninterrupted football, only to be hit again.
In a 1‑0 win over his former club Newport County on February 14, he scored the decisive goal, but within ten minutes of the second half both he and teammate Callum Paterson collapsed with ankle ligament injuries. Initial assessments suggested surgery might be required for Collins. "It felt like something was trying to take the season away from me," he reflected. "We had 12 or 13 games left, and Paterson’s injury was worse, so I needed to get back as quickly as possible." Fortunately, diligent rehab and careful management limited his absence to ten days and two matches.
Collins praised the process that kept swelling and pain under control, and he emphasised his eagerness to make up for lost time. "The main thing has just been being back in the starting XI; I feel I can affect the game a lot more when I start. I’m just playing my game, trying to be that focal point," he explained.
With Paterson out, Collins felt the responsibility to step up, noting, "Since Paterson has gone out, I’ve needed to fill in, as he was on fire before that." He also joked about the superstition that bad luck comes in threes, adding, "I’m done! Now I can just concentrate on being back in the team and playing a massive part in getting this team promoted." The Dons are indeed on the brink of promotion, with only two fixtures remaining and a three‑season spell in League Two – the longest in the club’s brief history – about to end. Collins has personal experience of promotion.
He helped Bristol Rovers ascend from League Two in the 2021/22 season, celebrating the night they went up by climbing onto a traffic light. This time, he quips, he might be celebrating on a roundabout instead: "There’s plenty to pick from round here!" He acknowledges the timeless football mantra that there is no feeling quite like promotion.
"I would have spent maybe 50 % of this season out injured, but being able to be involved in the other 50 %, play my part and be part of a promotion with 25 to 30 lads is a feeling you cherish forever." Reflecting on his previous promotion, Collins says it was a surprise that still resonates. "I still think about the promotion I had with Bristol Rovers.
That was probably more unexpected than if we do get promoted here, just regarding the last day and everything that went on. That was more of a shock, an enjoyable shock. Here we’ve come into form at the right time and we’re going into the last games with massive confidence." Looking ahead, Collins hopes for a drama‑free next season, but he knows the memories of this roller‑coaster campaign will linger. The Dons’ final two games will decide whether they lift the League Two trophy and move up to League One, ending a historic three‑year stay in the fourth tier.
For Collins, the journey has reinforced his resilience, highlighted the importance of mental strength during injury setbacks, and underscored the joy of contributing to a club’s success when the stakes are highest. Fans can catch the decisive matches live on Sky Sports+, and the excitement surrounding MK Dons’ promotion push continues to build as the season draws to a close.