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 campaign. His reputation preceded him: the 2024/25 season had seen him crowned Wanderers' Player of the Year after contributing 19 goals and five assists across 55 matches in all competitions.

After a medical check in Dubai—taken during a post‑holiday trip that also included Thailand and Bali—Collins signed as the Dons' record acquisition, a deal reported to be around £800,000. The club and its supporters were eager to see a return on that investment.

Unfortunately, the excitement was quickly tempered. Collins suffered a shoulder fracture in his very first home appearance against Oldham on August 2. "In the first game of the season, I ended up breaking my shoulder," he later recalled. "It should have been a penalty, but I didn’t get one, which made it even more frustrating.

I played on thinking it was just a jolt, then an X‑ray on Monday confirmed a break, sidelining me for six to eight weeks. It was a real kick in the teeth because I felt that new‑club buzz and was ready to give everything." The injury forced him to miss six league fixtures and a Carabao Cup first‑round loss to Bristol City. Collins finally returned to the pitch as a substitute in a 1‑1 draw at Chesterfield on September 13, and three days later he found the net in a 5‑1 Vertu Trophy defeat to West Ham United's under‑21 side.

However, misfortune struck again later that week when a hamstring pull kept him out for another two months. "I’d never been in that situation before," he 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 happened and everything happens for a reason." The forced downtime gave Collins a chance to empathise with teammates who had endured similar setbacks. "I could finally put myself in other people’s shoes, understand how they felt.

It was refreshing mentally," he said. When he earned his first league start since the opening day—against Harrogate five days before Christmas—he repaid the faith with a brace in a 4‑0 victory.

"The excitement came back," he noted. "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. He seemed to have left injuries behind 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 midway through the second half alongside teammate Callum Paterson, both victims of ankle ligament damage. Initial medical reports suggested surgery for Collins. "It felt like something was trying to take the season away from me," he reflected. "We had 12 or 13 games left.

Paterson’s injury was worse, so I needed to get back as quickly as possible." Remarkably, Collins missed only two games, returning after a ten‑day spell. He worked tirelessly to control swelling and pain, and now his focus is on making up for lost time. "The main thing has just been being back in the starting XI; I feel I can affect the game a lot more when I start.

I’m just playing my game, trying to be that focal point," he explained. With Paterson sidelined, Collins has had to shoulder additional responsibility, acknowledging the old football adage that “bad luck comes in threes.” He insists he is now free of that curse and ready to concentrate on helping MK Dons secure promotion.

The Dons are perched on the brink of a historic achievement. With only two fixtures remaining, they are poised to end a three‑season spell in League Two—the longest stretch in the club’s brief history.

Collins knows what promotion feels like; he earned it with Bristol Rovers in the 2021/22 season, celebrating the night they went up by climbing a traffic light. This time, he jokes that a roundabout might be his celebration spot, noting, "There’s plenty to pick from round here!" He adds, "There’s a saying in football that there’s no better feeling than promotion. I probably spent about 50 % of this season injured, but being involved in the other half and contributing to a promotion with 25‑30 lads is a feeling you cherish forever.

I still think about the Bristol Rovers promotion—it was unexpected, a shock that turned into pure joy. If we get promoted here, it will be another unforgettable shock at the very end of the season." Confidence is high within the squad. "We’ve hit form at the right time and we’re heading into the final games with massive confidence," Collins says.

Looking ahead, he hopes for a smoother, drama‑free season, but acknowledges that the memories of this roller‑coaster campaign will linger. The Dons’ final push promises excitement for supporters, and Collins is determined to be a central figure in that narrative, hoping his story ends with a triumphant ascent rather than another untimely setback.