The front man is eager to provide more of a threat next season

Though it ended with promotion, MK Dons striker Aaron Collins admitted he was not pleased with his return in League Two last season.

In a season marred by injury, the Welshman made just 32 appearances following his move from Bolton Wanderers last summer, with only 21 of them starts, and only three of them coming prior to late November. All told, he finished the season with eight goals, a turnaround of one every four games despite his injury issues at the start of the season.

Having been one of League One’s hottest properties the year before though, netting 19 for the Trotters prior to his move, Collins admitted his personal goals for last season fell short of his own expectations, even though he finished with a smile on his face.

“I’m disappointed, individually, with last season,” he said. “Because of the injuries I wasn’t able to succeed individually as much as I wanted to, but it’s a team sport so I succeeded because the team was promoted.”

League One is a division which has seen Collins thrive in the past. Not only in his time at Bolton, but also at Bristol Rovers, the striker has netted 39 goals and provided 26 assists in 137 games.

Returning to the third tier with Dons this season, Collins hopes to rekindle his affair with the division as he expects others around him in the dressing room to do the same.

He said: “A lot of lads came to the club last year from high divisions, and the goal was to get back to League One. We got the job done, which was a great feeling and we want that again. We’ve got that hunger, we’re going into the season on a high. There is no better feeling in football, you go through the hard grafts of pre-season for those moments.

“I’ve done three seasons in League One and I’ve had very good seasons when I’ve been there. I’m excited to be back there and I hope I can perform.

“There is a difference between League One and Two. League One has a lot more football played, ball on the ground. I’m looking forward to it. We’re coming into the season, in our heads, as a League One side.”