Aaron Collins made the surprising decision to drop a tier when he left Bolton for MK Dons in June, arriving with the expectation that he would dominate the Sky Bet League Two. The optimism was justified: the previous season he had been honoured as Bolton Wanderers' Player of the Year after contributing 19 goals and five assists across 55 matches in all competitions. After completing a medical in Dubai—following a holiday that took him through Thailand and Bali—Collins became the Dons' most expensive signing on record, a deal reported to be worth around £800,000.

The club and its supporters were eager to see a return on that investment. Unfortunately, the first sign of trouble came on his debut at home against Oldham on August 2, when he suffered a broken shoulder. "In the opening game of the season I ended up breaking my shoulder," Collins recalled. "It should have been a penalty, but I didn’t get one, which made it even more frustrating.

I kept playing, assuming it was just a jar, but an X‑ray on Monday confirmed a fracture and put me out for six to eight weeks. It felt like a punch in the gut because I was so keen to start the new chapter and give everything for the club." The injury forced him onto the bench for six league fixtures and a Carabao Cup first‑round loss to Bristol City. Collins finally returned 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. However, a hamstring pull in a training session later that week sidelined him for another two months. "I’d never been in a situation where an injury kept me out for more than a game or two," he said.

"It was mentally draining. I always thought I could go through my career injury‑free, but reality hit me and I had to accept that everything happens for a reason." The forced downtime gave Collins a chance to empathise with teammates who had previously endured similar setbacks.

"I could finally put myself in other people’s shoes and understand what they were feeling. That mental shift was oddly refreshing," he noted.

His first league start since the opening day arrived just before Christmas, when MK Dons faced Harrogate. Collins made the most of the opportunity, scoring twice in a 4‑0 victory. "The excitement came back instantly," he said.

"I thought, this is the moment to prove why I’m here." By mid‑February Collins had enjoyed a relatively injury‑free stretch of almost three months. He seemed to have put the earlier setbacks behind him when he netted the winner in a 1‑0 triumph over his former club Newport on February 14. Yet the celebration was short‑lived: within ten minutes of the second half, both he and teammate Callum Paterson went down with ankle ligament injuries. Initial assessments suggested Collins might need surgery.

"It felt like the season was being taken away from me at a crucial stage," Collins admitted. "We had about 12 or 13 games left, and Paterson’s injury was even worse, so I knew I had to recover quickly.

Fortunately I only missed two games, giving myself ten days to manage swelling and pain. Now I’m focused on making up for the lost time." He emphasised the difference between coming on as a substitute and starting a match. "When I start, I can influence the game far more. I’m just playing my natural game, trying to be the focal point for the team.

Since Paterson has been out, I’ve had to step up and fill his role, especially because he was in great form before his injury." Collins also reflected on the old football superstition that bad luck comes in threes. "I’ve had my share of misfortune, but now I can concentrate on helping the squad push for promotion," he said.

With only two fixtures remaining, MK Dons are teetering on the brink of ending what would become the longest three‑season spell in League Two in the club’s brief history. Collins, who earned promotion with Bristol Rovers in 2021/22, remembers celebrating that achievement on top of a traffic light. This time, he jokes that a roundabout might be the more likely spot for his celebration, adding, "There’s plenty to pick from round here!" He summed up the emotional weight of a promotion push: "There’s a saying in football that there’s no better feeling than promotion. I probably spent about half the season injured, but being able to contribute in the other half and help a group of 25‑30 lads achieve promotion is a memory I’ll cherish forever.

I still think about the surprise promotion with Bristol Rovers—it was an unexpected, delightful shock. If we manage to go up here, it will be just as thrilling." Collins believes the team has hit form at the perfect moment and now heads into the final games with massive confidence.

He hopes the next season will be less dramatic, but he knows the drama of this campaign will stay with him for a long time. The decisive match against Tranmere will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+, kicking off at 12.30 pm on Saturday. Fans can also try their luck in the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, with free entry available.