Toby Collyer set for role in Manchester United’s first-team next season | OneFootball

Toby Collyer is set to be given a “chance” to stake his claim in the Manchester United first-team next season.

The 20-year-old midfielder has played in both of United’s pre-season games and his performances on the pitch, as well as the training ground, have led to him “catching the eye” of Erik ten Hag.

Described as one of the “most highly rated players in the United youth set-up”, Collyer is a defensive midfielder, capable of also playing at centre-back.

His physicality was on display in both pre-season matches and will have demonstrated to his manager his readiness to handle the rigours of senior Premier League football.

Collyer captained United after coming on at half-time in the first game against Rosenborg before being promoted to the starting berth alongside Casemiro against Rangers – a sign the 20-year-old impressed Ten Hag in Rosenborg defeat, despite the Dutchman’s critique of his squad.

Collyer signed a new deal at Old Trafford earlier this month, tying him down for the next three seasons. He had previously joined United from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022.

Interestingly, Ten Hag “insisted” on being present for Collyer’s signing ceremony at Carrington, later describing how the youngster had “earned” his place in his squad moving forward.

Sources at Old Trafford reveal the Dutchman is said to “really like” the 20-year-old midfielder, offering striking similarities to the ascension of a previous midfield starlet from the United academy.

Following United’s triumph over Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final in February 2023, Ten Hag was spotted on the pitch in conversation with Kobbie Mainoo. Only 17 at the time, the Stockport-born midfielder was already admired by the Dutch manager, who evidently believed his progression to the first-team was imminent, and was making sure he knew as much.

Fast forward less than eighteen months and Mainoo has just returned from international duty with England at the European Championship where he played a prominent role as the Three Lions reached the final, only to fall short to a rampant Spanish side.

Mainoo’s place in Gareth Southgate’s squad came after a storming second half of an otherwise disappointing season for United. The then 18-year-old firmly established himself in Ten Hag’s first-eleven from November onwards, after recovering from a serious ankle injury sustained last summer.

This ascension culminated in a Man-of-the-Match display in the final of the FA Cup final as his brilliantly taken goal helped United to a fantastic 2-1 win over local rivals Manchester City. His performances earlier in the competition were as good, helping the midfielder to scoop up the ‘FA Cup Player of the Season‘ award.

In the aftermath of the win, as the United entourage poured onto the Wembley pitch, Ten Hag was once again pictured deep in conversation with a midfield academy graduate – Collyer.

The Dutch manager has already demonstrated he is willing to put his faith in youngsters, with Alejandro Garnacho joining Mainoo as one of the breakout stars of last season. The ages of other players set to play key roles for Ten Hag next season – Ramus Hojlund (21), Joshua Zirkzee (23) and Amad Diallo (22) – further demonstrates this commitment to youth.

Collyer appears ready to given the opportunity to stake a similar claim in Ten Hag’s squad. Whether the 20-year-old midfielder will grab it with both hands remains to be seen.

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