Collins opens his MK Dons account after freak injuries mar season so far
The striker bagged his first league goals for MK Dons on Saturday
Getting his first league goals for the club will lift a huge weight off Aaron Collins’ shoulders.
The Welshman has had to wait nearly five months to open his League Two account since making the summer move to MK Dons from Bolton Wanderers through no fault of his own, suffering a broken shoulder and a hamstring tear in quick succession, limiting his time on the pitch.
Making his first start since the opening day of the season against Oldham, where he suffered his shoulder injury, Collins found the back of the net twice in eight minutes against Harrogate Town to put Dons on course for a 4-0 win in north Yorkshire.
And it probably should have been a hat-trick too, to add to his pre-season treble against Hitchin Town, but keeper James Belshaw denied him when put through by skipper Alex Gilbey.
“He is someone we’ve missed massively,” said the captain. “We saw what he could do in pre-season, he was scoring for fun, and we could see how good he was in training. For him to have the freak injuries he has took a lot out of the group, especially when you bring in someone of his calibre.
“To see him score two goals it’s amazing, and it gives us so much confidence, especially after losing Mendez-Laing (who has undergone hamstring surgery), who has been unplayable at times. To lose him but to bring in Aaron Collins, we’re very lucky.
“He was kicking himself at half-time and after the game, but I told him it is what it is and not to use up all his goals now. He prides himself on those sorts of things, and usually he would rip the back of the net off.
“It’s a shame for him not to get the hat-trick, it would have been incredible for him to get that confidence boost but he will get a few more next week hopefully.”
Head coach Paul Warne joked he was keen to see Collins remain humble after missing out on his hat-trick, but said the striker’s finishing should have everyone excited to see him start to pick up pace in front of goal.
He said: “We were doing the shooting drills in the warm-up before the game in front of our fans, and he was unbelievable. I wanted to fans to be watching thinking ‘corr, he’s a good player!’
“For him to get a brace was good, he didn’t get his hat-trick which is probably a good thing because it keeps his feet on the ground, from a manager’s point of view. A brace is good, but it’s not quite a hat-trick!”