Aaron Collins swapped Bolton for MK Dons last June, dropping a tier to compete in the Sky Bet League Two. The move was hardly a surprise; just a season earlier he had been crowned Bolton Wanderers’ Player of the Year after netting 19 goals and adding five assists across 55 matches in all competitions. After a medical check in Dubai – following a holiday that took him through Thailand and Bali – he arrived at the Dons as their record signing, a deal reported to be worth around £800,000. The fee set high expectations for immediate impact.
Unfortunately, his debut at the MK Dons’ home ground against Oldham on August 2 turned into a nightmare. Collins later recounted, “In the first game of the season I broke my shoulder.
It should have been a penalty, but the referee didn’t award one, which made it even more frustrating.” He initially thought it was a minor jolt and kept playing, only to learn from an X‑ray on Monday that the bone was fractured. The injury sidelined him for six to eight weeks – a harsh blow for a player eager to make his mark at a new club. During his absence, the Dons endured six league fixtures and a Carabao Cup first‑round loss to Bristol City without him. Collins finally returned as a substitute in the 1‑1 draw at Chesterfield on September 13.
Three days later he found the net in a 5‑1 Vertu Trophy defeat to West Ham’s U21 side, suggesting the injury might be behind him. Yet another setback arrived that same week when a hamstring pull during training forced him out for an additional two months.
“I’d never experienced a lay‑off that long,” Collins admitted. “Most of the time I’d just have a knock and push through the next game. This was mentally draining.
I used the time to put myself in the shoes of other players who have gone through similar spells – something I’d never truly understood before.” His first league start since that opening‑day mishap came on December 20 against Harrogate. Collins made the most of the opportunity, scoring twice in a 4‑0 victory and saying, “The excitement came back.
I knew this was my chance to prove why I’m here.” By mid‑February he had enjoyed a relatively injury‑free stretch of almost three months. On February 14, he scored the decisive goal in a 1‑0 win over his former side Newport.
However, the celebration was short‑lived; within ten minutes of the second half, both Collins and teammate Callum Paterson collapsed with ankle ligament injuries. Initial assessments suggested surgery for Collins, a prospect that threatened to derail the Dons’ promotion push.
“It felt like the season was being snatched away from me,” he reflected. “We were entering the final dozen games, and Paterson’s injury was even worse, so I knew I had to recover quickly.” Remarkably, Collins missed only two matches, returning after a ten‑day rest. He worked tirelessly to control swelling and pain, emphasizing his desire to make up for lost time.
“The main thing has been getting back into the starting XI,” he explained. “When I start, I can influence the game far more.
I’m just playing my natural game, trying to be the focal point. Since Paterson has been out, I’ve had to step up; he was on fire before his injury.” Collins also joked about the superstition that bad luck comes in threes, noting that after three major setbacks he finally feels the tide turning. With just two fixtures remaining, MK Dons sit on the brink of ending their longest spell in League Two – a three‑season stay that could soon become a memory.
His promotion experience isn’t new. In 2021/22 he helped Bristol Rovers ascend from the same division, celebrating the achievement by climbing onto a traffic light. This time, he quips, “I might end up on a roundabout instead – there are plenty of options around here!” He summed up the emotional weight of a promotion campaign: “There’s a saying in football that nothing feels better than promotion.
I probably spent half the season injured, but being part of the other half and contributing to a promotion with a squad of 25‑30 lads is a feeling you cherish forever.” He recalled the surprise of Rovers’ promotion, describing it as an “enjoyable shock,” and expressed confidence that the Dons are hitting form at the perfect moment. Looking ahead, Collins hopes for a drama‑free next season, but he knows the current campaign will stay with him for a long time. As the final games approach, the Dons are brimming with confidence, ready to seize the chance of moving up the football ladder.