As Manchester United prepares for the upcoming season, Toby Collyer is becoming more and more of a player to watch.
The midfielder started the first half of United’s 2-0 triumph over Rangers five days after coming on as a second-half replacement in United’s 1-0 loss to Rosenborg on July 15. The 20-year-old, who began practicing with the senior team in February 2024, has been developing gradually. During the 2023–24 season, he was listed as one of Erik ten Hag’s substitutes for eight games.
“I always want to make pathways for young players, but they have to earn it,” the United manager said after the Rangers victory. “He’s now earned an opportunity. Today, he was in the starting XI — that’s something, and we will see how we can progress.
“Last year with Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, we saw what can happen — the pathway is open for other players and Toby is there in fourth (after Garnacho, Mainoo and Willy Kambwala).”
Collyer’s ability to hold onto ball in deep midfield areas has impressed since he joined United in 2022 from Brighton & Hove Albion. Rhys Bennett’s arrival onto the ball against Rosenborg in the second half was a memorable event.
When Collyer goes to take Bennett’s throw, he knows there is a defender on his back, but instead of freaking out, he sees Harry Amass running down the line to his right.
Then, he backheels the ball into the left-back’s path in space, and United is ahead.
Instead of United losing the ball under duress, this moment has given them a chance to launch an offensive.
Although it was a clever move, the young defensive midfielder is not known for his flashy plays.
When it comes to passing the ball, Collyer is a composed player who prefers safe, short passes that go sideways or backwards, though he can also occasionally make long switch passes. In addition, he has a great ability to receive the ball on the half turn, allowing passes to pass across his body before swinging his hips to shield it from opponents trying to put pressure on him.
As United builds from the back, Collyer, a potentially press-resistant midfielder, might be relied upon to hang onto the ball in Ten Hag’s 4-2-3-1 center.
Tall, powerful, and skilled at delaying opposition counterattacks, there are times when his play reminds us of Declan Rice’s when he made his way into West Ham United’s starting lineup.
While in possession, Collyer has demonstrated promise in broad area patrols. His ability to know when and when to run back towards his goal to assist the team is what makes his defensive performance so great.
Collyer is a great athlete who can run 20 to 30 yards fast. Rather than running around wildly trying to find the ball, Collyer tries to sabotage easy passes inside the opponent half.
Collyer’s defensive strategy focuses on stopping opponents’ more obvious passes before trying to intercept the ball and return it to his team.
Collyer was repeatedly observed in the latter third of the Rosenborg match, blocking a cutback cross.
He performs better in smaller defensive scenarios when he is a member of a group pressing unit as opposed to a lone pivot making a lot of recoveries. He liked to wait for opponents to make a clumsy pass or take a heavy touch before making an offensive move against Rosenborg and Rangers. Collyer is not one to engage in 40- or 60-man battles for the ball, but he is adept at positioning himself to prevent the opponent side from rapidly playing through the lines in the event that the ball is lost.
Robust aerially — prior player profiles had him measured at 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm), but a recent growth spurt has him standing closer to 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) — Collyer has the physical attributes required to develop into a competent defensive midfield player. The question then becomes whether he can hold his own against formidable opposition such that his team has the upper hand in games.
A prospective midfield partnership with Mainoo would require assistance from Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, and Andre Onana to help move the ball up the pitch due to his relative lack of progressive passing. Collyer still has to demonstrate to United what kind of ball-carrier he can be on a senior squad. He has the opportunity to adequately showcase as many of those qualities in a controlled setting during this preseason.
Instead of trying to loan him to another team this season, the club is probably going to keep him until the summer tour. Ten Hag made a point of attending Collyer’s most recent contract signing this month. The deal is set to last until 2027 with a one-year option to extend.
In a further indication of his confidence in Collyer’s abilities, the United manager gave him the captain’s armband for the second half of the match against Rosenborg. As the tour moves to the United States, the midfielder has the chance to gain more playing time and establish himself as a midfield option, filling in for Casemiro or any new players. The relevant parties will have a greater understanding of Collyer’s skill set and future prospects after games against Arsenal, Real Betis, and Liverpool.
In any case, he will probably stay in the starting lineup for a little longer and might be benched for the August 10 Community Shield match against Manchester City at Wembley.
Collyer has shown himself to be a player to watch in the preseason and might have a breakthrough year.
(Top photo: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
