"We've been at 75 per cent": Collins predicts Dons will only get stronger
There are still some heavy hitters set to return from the Stadium MK treatment room
With some big names and signings set to come back into contention for MK Dons, striker Aaron Collins believes the team will find another gear in the next few weeks.
Having made a solid start to the season, sitting fourth heading into Saturday’s early kick-off against Fleetwood Town, the likes of Collins and fellow summer signing from Bolton Gethin Jones are back amongst the squad to help the side in their quest for promotion.
The duo are the latest to make returns, with Scott Hogan, Kane Wilson and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans still sidelined but on course to come back sooner rather than later.
Without the quintet for most of the opening four months of the campaign, Collins said the Dons squad had performed excellently until this point given the players Paul Warne has been unable to select, and that with those players returning, he anticipates they will only get stronger.
“There have been a lot of injuries, and I think we’ve probably only had 75 per cent squad strength for the first 17 games of the season,” said the Welshman. “Looking at the positives, we can all come back and make a difference in the team and improve it. The more players we have back, the better we can make the team to get us into a better position.
“We’re in a great position, we’re fourth in the league but we don’t feel like we’ve been playing at 100 per cent yet, let alone had all our options available.
“We want to be the best team in the league, but it’s not as easy as that. For the lads to be in the positions we are, without myself and others being able to play a part yet, it’s positive for us.”
With the busy festive period on the horizon and the January transfer window looming, Collins said the next few weeks will be huge in setting Dons up for the remainder of the season.
He added: “The big period now is Christmas and heading into the New Year, where we need to prove we deserve to be up there. And I think if we’re up there, we can kick on in the second-half of the season.
“There could be new faces in January, which will only strengthen but as well, we’re getting lads back from injury, so it’s like having new signings. Fans will start to see it too, we’ll all begin to adapt to each other.”