Toby Collyer is quickly becoming a name to watch at Manchester United, with the 20-year-old midfielder showing exceptional promise during pre-season. Signed from Brighton’s academy in 2022, Collyer has impressed both fans and pundits with his performances, suggesting he could play a significant role in the upcoming season under Erik ten Hag.
Erik ten Hag and Manchester United have faced plenty of criticism over the last season, many of it justified, but a ray of hope that emerged from the highly tumultuous 23/24 season, was Man United’s and ten Hag’s commitment to developing the youth and giving them a chance whenever possible. Kobbie Mainoo was the star of last season as the 18-year-old stepped up into the Red Devils midfield, and looked like he had played there for years. The young English midfielder was so impressive that he earned an England call-up just a few months into his first full season, and was the mainstay of the Three Lions team that made it all the way to the finals in the Euros.
Alongside Kobbie Mainoo, a few other youngsters also became a core part of the team, with the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Højlund playing some of the most minutes in the squad while Amad Diallo featured regularly on his return from injury late into the season. Similarly, various cameos from other academy graduates like Willy Kambwala, Omari Forson, Hannibal, Ethan Wheatley and Daniel Gore, has seen the club reiterate their motto of ‘if you are good enough, you are old enough.’
A closer look at Toby Collyer
A new name on the lips of almost every Manchester United fan is that of 20-year-old Toby Collyer. Collyer is set to be the latest in a long line of youngsters to star at Manchester United, with the English midfielder featuring heavily in pre-season and impressing fans and pundits alike. The manager is keen on the youngster and wants him to be a part of the first-team squad in the upcoming season. The Old Trafford faithful first heard Collyer’s name after he was signed from the Brighton Academy in 2022, after which he spent two years playing in the United youth setups.
His name popped up again when he was named for the 2023 pre-season tour, featuring in the Red Devils’ 3-1 defeat to Wrexham. He then trained with the first team on several occasions amidst United’s injury crisis last season and was named on the bench for a few games at the backend of the season gone by.
Toby Collyer was then included in Manchester United’s ongoing pre-season tour and was comfortable with the juniors and seniors as well. The 20-year-old often looked like the best player in the side, despite playing alongside the likes of Casemiro, Rashford, Amad, and others. Able to play a few positions in the midfield, the general opinion seems to be that he would excel in a double pivot, either with the likes of Mainoo, who likes to venture forward, or with the likes of Casemiro, who would rather shield the defense and let others take up the creative burden.
Many have compared Collyer’s profile to that of Arsenal and England star Declan Rice, with the two having similar abilities on and off the ball. Toby Collyer, much like the England international, can look after the ball when pressed and is rarely caught in possession. His impressive vision, passing, and dribbling abilities ensure that he can evade an opposition press with ease and drive his team forward. The young starlet has been described as a safe passer, one who would rather pass his way out of pressure than dribble, but enjoys taking the ball to the opposition third when given the time and space.
Ten Hag’s confidence in Collyer
According to various reports, ten Hag is a big fan of the young midfielder’s skills on the ball, which was a key factor in convincing him to sign a professional contract with Manchester United.
Former Brighton U18 coach Mark Beard, who worked with Toby Collyer in the under-15s and under-16s, was full of praise for his former disciple, saying, “He is a pleasure to coach. Collyer is so low-maintenance and gets on with his job. He regularly put in displays of 8/10 at the least. He had the best running stats, runs 13 kilometers a game, and breaks things up.” Beard described the youngster as more of a defensive midfielder, but that the coaches tried to get more out of him by improving his dribbling skills and having him travel forwards with the ball more.
One of his more admirable qualities is his athleticism and endurance. The 20-year-old covers a lot of ground, and his stamina ensures that he can maintain the same intensity throughout the game. Collyer likes to have the ball and always presents himself as an option, which is crucial for a team that likes to build from the back. Thus, the youngster, through excellent knowledge of the game and intelligent positioning, can receive the ball even in tight spaces and get the ball up the pitch.
Out of possession, the midfielder has shown promising qualities, although his spatial awareness has sometimes let him down. He relishes defensive duels almost as if he is a defender, likes to slide into tackles, and is quite a strong tackler. Even at his young age, Collyer can read the game very well, and his ability to disrupt opposition games has been a highlight since his days in the Brighton youth academy and was evident in the games against Rosenborg, Rangers, and Arsenal in Manchester United’s ongoing pre-season. His disciplined positioning has drawn rave reviews, and he is rarely fazed by the occasion or the caliber of the opponent in front of him.
Collyer possesses excellent leadership skills and seems to be mature beyond his age, and as a result, he has been handed the captain’s armband in the youth setups as well as by Erik ten Hag during the pre-season. He can inspire, command, and lead by example in almost every game, which is something every manager wants his captain to be.
What lies ahead for Toby Collyer
Erik Ten Hag likes his players to be good with the ball as he aims to mould Manchester United into a more possession-based side, than just relying on transitions. In such a team, a player with the profile of Collyer becomes invaluable, as someone who is eager to get on the ball, but is smart and skilled enough to make good decisions. His best position seems to be in a double pivot, alongside a more secured midfielder, but at a young age, he can still be coached and turned into a player comfortable in the single defensive midfielder role.
Toby Collyer’s performances so far have grabbed the attention of the manager and the fans, and there is no doubt that if he keeps up the same form, he will find himself with plenty of opportunities in the Man United first team in the upcoming season.
