In a summer packed with international football with Manchester United players taking part at the European Championship and Copa America, United’s pre-season will kick off with a depleted squad available.
As a result Erik ten Hag will have to draft in a number of academy players to fill the holes for the pre-season tour.
With United’s u18s hot off the back of a treble winning season, the timing couldn’t be any better to dip into the never-ending production line of talents at Carrington.
Therefore, we take a deeper look at some of the names who could burst onto the scene this summer in our five-part series. Click here to view the first, second, third, and fourth editions.
The final academy player we look at ahead of a breakout pre-season is Toby Collyer.
Despite the fourth player on our list, Finley McAllister, possibly having a higher potential, breaking into the first team relies just as much on timing as it does on ability.
At 20 years old, two and a half years older than McAllister, the timing of this year’s pre-season may yet benefit Collyer as he could be favored over the 17-year-old McAllister.
With a gaping hole at the base of United’s midfield after Sofyan Ambrabat’s loan ended and a possible summer exit for Casemiro, Ten Hag will need options during the season even if he makes reinforcements in the summer transfer market.
This means pre-season is the time to shine for Collyer and prove his worth in the first team squad.
Already featuring regularly on the bench in the second half of the season, the young midfielder has obviously impressed the boss but not quite enough to earn his debut yet.
But a lengthy conversation with Ten Hag after the FA Cup final has piqued fans’ interest in the 20-year-old and what it could mean.
Originally in Brighton & Hove Albion’s academy, Collyer joined United in 2022 with a high pedigree, having won the Premier League u17s Cup the year before and captaining England at his age level.
Struggling with some injuries since his arrival, he has spent most of his time at the club within a middling u21s side who have often looked disjointed, which was a difficult environment for anyone to fully display their talent.
A technical player though, Collyer likes to operate just in front of the backline where he picks up the ball and dictates the tempo with quick short passing or dribbling bursts into open space.
His style may not be the most eye-catching but it is necessary and he is very good at mopping up play at the edge of the box with decisive tackles or smart positioning to cut off passing lanes, similar to Michael Carrick.
A rangy midfielder, the youngster would also add some much-needed height to the midfield which is on the shorter side.
Pre-season will be the perfect opportunity for everyone to see exactly what Ten Hag’s plans are for this youngster.
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