Aaron Collins swapped a spot in Bolton’s squad for a place at MK Dons last June, dropping a division in the process and arriving with the expectation that he would dominate the Sky Bet League Two campaign. The optimism was not unfounded; the 2024/25 season had seen him earn Wanderers’ Player of the Year award 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 – the striker became the Dons’ most expensive signing on record, with a reported fee of £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 home debut against Oldham on 2 August, when he suffered a broken shoulder. "In the opening game I thought I’d just jostled it, but an X‑ray on Monday confirmed a fracture," Collins recalled. "I missed six to eight weeks, which was a massive blow because I felt 100 percent ready for the new season and wanted to make an immediate impact." The injury forced him to watch from the sidelines for six league fixtures and a Carabao Cup first‑round loss to Bristol City. He returned as a substitute in a 1‑1 draw at Chesterfield on 13 September and, three days later, found the net in a 5‑1 Vertu Trophy defeat to West Ham’s under‑21 side.

However, a hamstring pull during a training session later that week sidelined him for another two months. "I’d never dealt with an injury that kept me out for more than a game or two," he admitted.

"It was mentally draining. I always imagined I could go my whole career without a serious lay‑off, but reality hit me hard." The forced break gave Collins time for reflection. "I could finally put myself in the shoes of teammates who had been through similar setbacks.

That perspective was oddly refreshing and helped me stay mentally resilient," he said. His first league start since that opening‑day mishap arrived on the festive period, when MK Dons faced Harrogate five days before Christmas. Collins seized the moment, scoring twice in a 4‑0 victory.

"The excitement came back instantly," he explained. "I knew this was my chance to prove why the club signed me." By mid‑February, Collins had enjoyed a relatively injury‑free spell of almost three months. He seemed to have put his earlier misfortunes behind him when he netted the winning goal in a 1‑0 triumph over his former side Newport on 14 February. 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 surgery might be required for Collins. "It felt like the season was being ripped away from me at a crucial juncture – we had about a dozen games left," he recounted. "Paterson’s injury was worse, so I pushed myself to recover quickly.

In the end I missed only two games and spent ten days in rehab, working hard to control swelling and pain. Now my focus is on making up for lost time." Collins emphasized the importance of starting matches rather than coming off the bench.

"When I start I can influence the game far more. I’m trying to be the focal point of our attack and fill the void left by Paterson, who was in great form before his injury," he said. "Bad luck seems to come in threes, but I’m done dwelling on it. My only goal now is to help the team secure promotion." With only two fixtures remaining, MK Dons stand on the brink of ending what would become the longest three‑season stay in League Two in the club’s brief history.

Collins has already tasted promotion, having lifted Bristol Rovers from the same division in 2021/22. He famously celebrated that achievement atop a traffic light; this time he jokes that a roundabout might be his celebratory perch, noting, "There are plenty of roundabouts around here!" He reflected on the emotional weight of promotion: "There’s a saying in football that nothing feels better than going up. I probably spent half the season injured, but being involved in the other half and contributing to a promotion with a squad of 25‑30 lads is a memory I’ll cherish forever.

The surprise promotion with Bristol Rovers still sticks with me – it was an unexpected, joyous shock." Looking ahead, Collins is hopeful for a smoother, drama‑free campaign next season, but he knows the current journey will remain vivid in his mind. "We’ve hit form at the right time and head into the final games brimming with confidence," he concluded.

"I just want to stay fit, start matches, and do my part in getting MK Dons back up the ladder."