Aaron Collins swapped the Bolton colors for MK Dons last June, dropping a tier to take on the challenges of Sky Bet League Two. The move was hardly a surprise; the striker had just been crowned Bolton Wanderers' Player of the Year for the 2024/25 campaign, a season in which he netted 19 goals and supplied five assists across 55 matches in all competitions. After a routine medical in Dubai—following a brief off‑season trip to Thailand and Bali—Collins arrived at the Dons as their record signing, with a reported fee of around £800,000. The club and its supporters expected a swift return on that investment.
Unfortunately, the opening day proved cruel. In the home fixture against Oldham on August 2, Collins suffered a broken shoulder. "In the first game of the season I ended up breaking my shoulder," he later 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 the X‑ray on Monday confirmed the break and I was out for six to eight weeks. It was a kick in the teeth because I was buzzing for the new season, 100 per cent ready, and I wanted to play a massive part." The injury forced him onto the sidelines for six league matches and the Carabao Cup first‑round loss to Bristol City. Collins made his first appearance back as a substitute in a 1‑1 draw away at Chesterfield on September 13. Three days later, he found the net in a 5‑1 Vertu Trophy defeat to West Ham United’s U21 side.
Yet his return was short‑lived; a hamstring pull in a training session later that week sidelined him for another two months. "I’d never been in that situation before," he 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 was going to happen at some point and everything happens for a reason." The forced break gave Collins time to reflect on the plight of players who endure similar setbacks. "I got to put myself in other people’s shoes who had been there in the past and are going through it now.
I could never really understand how they were feeling before. To be able to do that was quite refreshing mentally," he said.
His first league start since that opening‑day disaster came against Harrogate Town just five days before Christmas. Collins seized the moment, scoring a brace in a 4‑0 victory that reignited his confidence.
"The excitement came back," he smiled. "I thought this is the time to kick on and show why I’m here." By mid‑February, Collins had enjoyed a relatively injury‑free spell of almost three months. He seemed to have put his injury woes behind him when he scored the decisive goal in a 1‑0 win over his former side Newport County on February 14. However, the celebration was short‑lived: within ten minutes of the second half, both Collins and teammate Callum Paterson went down with ankle ligament injuries.
While Paterson’s damage proved more severe, Collins faced the prospect of surgery. "It wasn’t nice. It was like something was trying to take the season away from me," he reflected.
"It was a crucial time with 12 or 13 games to go. Paterson’s was unfortunately worse than mine, so I needed to make sure I could get back as quickly as possible.
Thankfully, I only missed two games and had ten days out. I’ve worked hard to keep the swelling and the pain away and it’s feeling good. All I’m worried about now is making up for the time I missed." Collins emphasized the importance of starting matches rather than coming off the bench. "The main thing has just been being back starting; I feel I can affect the game a lot more when I’m starting.
I’m just playing my game, trying to be that focal point. Since Paterson has gone out, I’ve needed to step up and fill in, as he was on fire before that. I’ve had in my head, bad luck comes in threes and I’m done! Now I can just concentrate on being back in the team and playing a massive part in getting this team promoted." With only two fixtures remaining, MK Dons sit on the brink of ending what would become a three‑season stay in League Two—the longest stretch in the club’s brief history.
Collins, who earned promotion with Bristol Rovers in 2021/22, remembers celebrating that achievement atop a traffic light. This time, he jokes, a roundabout might be the more likely spot for his victory dance.
"There’s plenty to pick from round here!" he laughs. He also reflects on the unique thrill of promotion.
"It’s a known saying in football that there’s no better feeling than promotion. I would have spent maybe 50 per cent of this season out injured, but being able to be involved in the other 50 per cent and play my part and be involved in a promotion with 25 to 30 lads is a feeling you cherish forever. 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 campaign next season, but he knows the memories of this roller‑coaster will linger. The Dons’ final push for promotion promises more excitement, and fans can catch the decisive clash against Tranmere Rovers live on Sky Sports+ at 12.30 pm on Saturday. Whether the season ends in triumph or disappointment, Collins’ resilience—bouncing back from shoulder, hamstring and ankle setbacks—offers a compelling narrative of perseverance, determination, and the relentless pursuit of a footballer’s ultimate dream: promotion.