Aaron Collins swapped a place in Bolton’s ranks for a spot at Milton Keynes Dons last June, dropping a division with the expectation that he would dominate the Sky Bet League Two campaign. The optimism was well‑founded; the 2024/25 season had seen him crowned Bolton Wanderers’ Player of the Year after netting 19 goals and providing five assists across 55 appearances in all competitions. After completing a medical in Dubai – following a brief off‑season trip that took him through Thailand and Bali – Collins became the Dons’ record signing, a deal reported to be worth around £800,000.
The fee set a high bar for immediate impact, and fans eagerly awaited the return on their investment. Unfortunately, his debut at home to Oldham on 2 August turned into a nightmare.
"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 kept playing thinking I’d only jarred it, but an X‑ray on Monday confirmed a fracture and I was sidelined for six to eight weeks. It felt like a kick in the teeth – I was buzzing with that new‑club excitement and ready to give everything for the season." The injury forced Collins to miss six league fixtures and the Carabao Cup first‑round loss to Bristol City.
He made his return as a substitute in the 1‑1 draw at Chesterfield on 13 September, 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 experienced a lay‑off that long before," he admitted.
"Usually it was a minor knock that I could play through. This was mentally draining. I thought I could go my whole career without a serious injury, but life had other plans. It also gave me a chance to empathise with teammates who have been through similar setbacks – something I’d never truly understood before." Collins’ first league start since that opening‑day shoulder break came against Harrogate Town five days before Christmas.
He repaid the faith with a brace in a 4‑0 victory, saying, "The excitement came back. I knew this was my moment to prove why I’m here." By mid‑February, he had enjoyed a relatively injury‑free spell of almost three months. He seemed to have put the earlier setbacks behind him when he scored the decisive goal in a 1‑0 win over his former side Newport County on 14 February.
Yet the celebration was short‑lived; within ten minutes of the second half, Collins and teammate Callum Paterson both went down with ankle ligament injuries. Initial medical reports suggested Collins might need surgery.
"It felt like the season was being snatched away from me at a crucial stage – we only had about a dozen games left," Collins said. "Paterson’s injury was worse, so I pushed to recover quickly. In the end I missed just two games, about ten days, and I worked hard to keep swelling and pain under control.
Now my focus is on making up the time I lost." He added, "Starting matches makes a huge difference. When I’m on the bench I can’t influence the game as much. I’m trying to be the focal point, to step into the role Paterson left when he went out. Bad luck does come in threes, but I’m done dwelling on it – I’m concentrating on helping the team secure promotion." With only two fixtures remaining, MK Dons are perched on the brink of ending their longest spell in League Two – a three‑season stay that could finally close.
Collins knows the taste of promotion well; he helped Bristol Rovers ascend in 2021/22 and, after that night’s celebrations, he famously perched atop a traffic light. This time he jokes that a roundabout might be his perch, noting, "There’s plenty to choose from around here!" "There’s a saying in football that nothing feels better than promotion," he reflected.
"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’ll be another unforgettable moment." Collins believes the squad has hit form at the perfect moment and heads into the final games brimming with confidence. He hopes the next season will be drama‑free, but he knows the memories of this roller‑coaster campaign will linger for a long time.