Aaron Collins swapped a place in Bolton’s ranks for a spot at MK Dons last June, dropping a tier to take on the challenges of Sky Bet League Two. The move made sense on paper: just a season earlier he had been honoured as Bolton Wanderers’ Player of the Year after netting 19 goals and providing five assists across 55 matches in all competitions. After a medical check‑up in Dubai – following a holiday that saw him hop between Thailand and Bali – he signed for the Dons as their record acquisition, with the club reportedly paying around £800,000 for his services. The expectation was that the fee would be justified quickly, and fans were eager to see the striker deliver.

Unfortunately, the opening act of his MK Dons career was a nightmare. On his home debut against Oldham on 2 August, Collins suffered a broken shoulder.

"In the first game of the season I ended up breaking my shoulder," he recalled, adding that a penalty should have been awarded but wasn’t, which only added to his frustration. He tried to play on, assuming it was a minor jar, but an X‑ray on Monday confirmed a fracture that would keep him out for six to eight weeks.

"It was a kick in the teeth," Collins said, "I was 100 percent ready for the new season and wanted to play a massive part." While he recuperated, the Dons slipped through six league fixtures and a first‑round Carabao Cup loss to Bristol City without him. He made his return 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 U‑21 side.

Yet his comeback was short‑lived; a hamstring pull during a training session later that week sidelined him for another two months. "I’d never been in that situation before," Collins 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 him a chance to empathise with teammates who had endured 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 reflected.

His first league start since that opening day came against Harrogate five days before Christmas, and he seized the moment by scoring twice 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 football.

Injuries seemed a thing of the past—until a match against his former club Newport on 14 February. 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 medical advice suggested surgery for Collins.

"It wasn’t nice. It felt like something was trying to take the season away from me," he explained. "We were at a crucial stage with 12 or 13 games left.

Paterson’s injury was worse, so I needed to get back as quickly as possible." Remarkably, Collins missed just two games, returning after a ten‑day lay‑off. He worked hard to manage swelling and pain, and now his focus is on making up the lost time. "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," he said. With Paterson sidelined, Collins has been asked to shoulder extra responsibility, a role he embraces.

"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," he added. The Dons are now on the brink of promotion, with only two fixtures remaining. A three‑season spell in League Two – the longest in MK Dons’ brief history – is about to end. Collins knows the taste of promotion well; he helped Bristol Rovers ascend in 2021/22 and celebrated the achievement by climbing a traffic light.

This time, he jokes that a roundabout might be his celebratory perch. "There’s plenty to pick from round here!" He acknowledges the unique joy that comes with moving up a division. "There’s a saying in football that there’s no better feeling than promotion.

I would have spent maybe 50 percent of this season out injured, but being able to be involved in the other 50 percent and play my part and be involved in a promotion with 25 to 30 lads is a feeling you cherish forever." Collins still reminisces about the surprise promotion with Bristol Rovers, calling it an "enjoyable shock" that still feels vivid. He believes the Dons have hit form at the right moment and head into the final games brimming with confidence. Looking ahead, he hopes for a drama‑free next season but knows the memories of this roller‑coaster campaign will linger.

Fans can catch the decisive clash against Tranmere live on Sky Sports+ at 12.30 pm on Saturday, and the club continues to offer opportunities for supporters to engage, including a Super 6 competition with a chance to win £250,000.