Man Utd consider youngster ‘rare talent’ and plan his debut early in 2024/25 season

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Manchester United are planning ahead for the 2024/25 season and hope to have made a real discovery.

Last season Kobbie Mainoo made his presence felt in the Manchester United side in pre-season, and even an injury could not derail his progress, it merely delayed it.

Asking another player to follow Mainoo’s unstoppable rise is a near impossible ask.

United have 12 young academy players on tour, and one has really caught the eye.

High hopes for Toby Collyer

Toby Collyer has played in all three pre-season games for Manchester United so far, starting in two of them.

Supporters have been impressed with Collyer, who has shown real tenacity in midfield in terms of ball retention and the ability to win possession back.

Collyer has explained he is enjoying playing alongside Casemiro, and United have high hopes for him heading into next season.

Sam Pilger tells Forbes that Manchester United consider Collyer to be a ‘rare talent’, impressed with his ‘positioning, discipline, movement and ability to disrupt opponents’.

He adds that United admire his composure under pressure and expect to be able to hand him his first team debut early in 2024/25.

At the rate it is going, Collyer could even make his debut in the Community Shield, which takes place in just under a fortnight’s time.

Collyer has previously made the first team bench but has yet to make his debut. So far Erik ten Hag has handed debuts to six Manchester United academy players.

• READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25

No midfield signings yet

Manchester United have not yet made any signings in midfield, which has given Collyer a platform to impress.

Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes’ extended absences due to Euro 2024 have also helped.

United though, need to decrease reliance on Mainoo and Fernandes, and Collyer has a great opportunity.

Collyer has a chance to prove why he was touted as one of the best young players in the country when he was beginning his youth career at Brighton.

He is expected to start in the upcoming pre-season games against Real Betis and Liverpool. If he maintains his performance levels and stays injury free, then he has a real chance.