Erik ten Hag has named Toby Collyer as the next youngster who has ‘earned’ his chance to force his way into the Manchester United first-team.
The 20-year-old midfielder was among the clutch of youngsters regularly named in match day squads towards the end of the 2023-24 season during a time when so many of the manager’s regular options were ruled out with injury.
Harry Amass, Louis Jackson, Habeeb Ogunney and Ethan Wheatley were all called upon to make up the numbers with Collyer also making the bench for the final four Premier League games of the season.
He also travelled with the squad to Wembley for the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City with ten Hag seen deep in conversation with the youngster during the post-match celebrations – scenes similar to those that followed the previous year’s Carabao Cup win over Newcastle United where the Dutchman had a long chat with Kobbie Mainoo.
In a show of faith from ten Hag, Collyer was given the captain’s armband in the second-half of United’s pre-season with over Rosenberg on Monday, starting in the weekend win over Rangers alongside Casemiro.
Speaking after that win, ten Hag said of Collyer: ‘You know me, I always want to make pathways for young players but they have to earn it,’ the Manchester Evening News report.
‘He’s now earned an opportunity. Today he was in the starting XI, that’s something, and we see how we can progress.
‘We saw last year with [Alejandro] Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo what can happen, so the pathway is also open for other players and Toby is there in fourth.’
Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho have become first-team stars playing under ten Hag with another academy graduate in Willy Kambwala also getting his chance last season before being sold to Villarreal last week.
Ten Hag comments suggest Collyer could be the ‘fourth’ player to handed first-team opportunities under his tenure, after Garnacho, Mainoo and Kambwala.
United hope to sign a new midfielder this summer with talks underway to sign bring in Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain but there could still be plenty of opportunities in the middle of the park next term.
Casemiro’s future remains uncertain with United deciding against triggering their option to sign Sofyan Amrabat on a permanent deal. Scott McTominay meanwhile is the subject of interest from Fulham and Tottenham.
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