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 well‑founded; the 2024/25 season had seen him crowned Wanderers’ Player of the Year after netting 19 goals and adding five assists across 55 appearances in all competitions. Following a medical examination in Dubai—taken after a holiday that took him from Thailand to Bali—Collins officially became the Dons’ record signing.
The reported £800,000 fee sparked a buzz among supporters who wanted to see value for the club‑record outlay. Unfortunately, the excitement was quickly tempered when he suffered a shoulder fracture on his home debut against Oldham on August 2. “In the first game of the season I ended up breaking my shoulder,” Collins recalled.
“It should have been a penalty, but the referee didn’t award one, which made it even more frustrating. I thought I’d just knocked it a little, but an X‑ray on Monday confirmed a break, sidelining me for six to eight weeks.” He described the setback as “a kick in the teeth,” noting that he had arrived at the new club feeling 100 percent ready to make an impact. The injury forced him to miss 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, and three days later he scored in a 5‑1 Vertu Trophy defeat to West Ham’s U21 side.
However, misfortune struck again later that week when a hamstring pull kept him out 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 admitted. “It was mentally draining. I always thought I could go through my whole career injury‑free, but I guess that’s not realistic.” During the forced lay‑off he found an unexpected benefit: the time allowed him to empathise with teammates who had previously endured similar hardships.
“I could finally put myself in other people’s shoes and understand what they were feeling. That mental shift was surprisingly refreshing.” His first league start after the opening day came against Harrogate just five days before Christmas, and he marked the occasion 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 fitness, and injuries seemed to be a thing of the past—until a match against his former side Newport on February 14. He scored the decisive goal in a 1‑0 win, only to be forced off in the second half alongside teammate Callum Paterson after both suffered ankle‑ligament damage. Initial assessments suggested surgery might be required for Collins.
“It felt like the season was being ripped away from me at a crucial moment,” he reflected. “There were only 12 or 13 games left. Paterson’s injury was worse, so I knew I had to recover quickly.” Thanks to an intensive rehabilitation program, Collins missed only two games, returning after a ten‑day break. “I’ve worked hard to keep the swelling and pain under control, and now I feel good.
My focus is on making up for the time I missed,” he explained. “Being in the starting XI lets me influence the game far more. I’m just playing my natural game, trying to be the focal point.” With Paterson sidelined, Collins has had to shoulder additional responsibility. “Since he’s out, I’ve needed to step up.
Bad luck does come in threes, but I’m done dwelling on it. Now I can concentrate on helping the team secure promotion.” As the season draws to a close, MK Dons sit on the brink of ending their longest spell in League Two—three seasons, the longest in the club’s brief history. Collins, who earned promotion with Bristol Rovers in 2021/22, recalled celebrating that achievement atop a traffic light.
This time, he jokes that a roundabout is more likely: “There’s plenty to pick from round here!” He added, “There’s a saying in football that there’s no better feeling than promotion. I probably spent half the season injured, but being involved in the other half and contributing to a promotion push with 25‑30 lads is a feeling you cherish forever. I still think about that unexpected Bristol Rovers promotion—it was a shock in a good way. If we go up here, it will be another unforgettable moment.” Collins believes the Dons have hit form at the perfect moment and head into the final fixtures with massive confidence.
He hopes next season will be less dramatic, but he knows the memories of this roller‑coaster campaign will linger. Fans can catch MK Dons take on Tranmere live on Sky Sports+ at 12.30 pm on Saturday, with the match kicking off at 12.25 pm.
The club also invites supporters to join the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, entry being free of charge.