Hitman Collins is deserving of a call-up for his country, Paul Warne argues

Paul Warne reckons in-form striker Aaron Collins is of international calibre after his four-goal haul against Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.

The Welshman took his tally to 16 for the season in just 15 games, putting him out front as the leading goal-scorer in the country heading into November.

The 29-year-old stole the show in the emphatic 6-1 win over Doncaster as Dons climbed to 11th in League One with their third win in a row, and his performances of late are worthy of an international call-up, according to the MK Dons head coach.

“I think he’ll probably get a Wales call-up,” Warne predicted. “Getting 16 goals before November is Sunday morning stuff isn’t it, it doesn’t happen often in professional football.

“His game is excellent. He’s a constant threat, he’s quicker than he looks and his finishing is really clean. His finishing is a joke. He hardly ever misses. It’s not like he had eight chances today, only five or six, and he could have won a penalty as well.

“No-one can argue if he shoots because they’re going in.”

Not only was it the first time Collins had netted four in a game, it was the first time Warne had seen it in the flesh as well. While Dons fans had experienced it with Will Grigg and Scott Twine previously, Collins’ haul, and subsequent standing ovation from the Dons fans when he came off was a memorable moment for the head coach too.

He continued: “I’ve never seen four live before, not with my own eyes. I’ve never had the joy of substituting someone on four goals either, so I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“His first goal was good, the last goal was special. The third goal was the biggest goal because it gave us back the control. I was about to take him off after the hat-trick, then he got a fourth. He said if I kept him on he’d have got a fifth, well it’s not about you Aaron, my friend!

“I’m so pleased for him.”