As Erik ten Hag pulled one of Manchester United’s rising stars aside after May’s FA Cup final triumph, the sight was a source of deja vu for Red Devils supporters.
The now infamous chat between Ten Hag and Kobbie Mainoo after Manchester United had vanquished Newcastle in 2023’s Carabao Cup triumph was the moment many realised just how highly the Dutchman rated his teenage midfielder.
Mainoo, some 15 months later, was back at Wembley. On the team sheet this time, and the scoresheet too, slotting home the winner following that ‘perfect’ Bruno Fernandes assist.
If 2023 was the beginning of Mainoo’s Man United career, then could 2024 be the launchpad for Toby Collyer?
It did not go unnoticed by eagled-eyed supporters that Ten Hag appeared to give Collyer the Mainoo treatment after United upset the Man City applecart in May. A couple of eye-catching pre-season displays since then, meanwhile, have done little to quell the growing excitement surrounding the hard-running 20-year-old midfielder.
Erik ten Hag likes Manchester United’s Toby Collyer
Collyer, speaking to The Athletic, admits he is delighted to have caught Ten Hag’s attention.
“I think it’s a massive boost, it shows he rates me as a player,” says the Crawley-born starlet. “(At Wembley) he just said take it all in, enjoy myself and keep working hard and you never know what can happen.
“He’s a really good guy, the manager.”
Say what you want about Ten Hag, the Dutchman has done some sterling work with Man United’s next generation.
Collyer might not possess the sparkling natural talent of Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho – the Red Devils’ other Wembley hero – but the way he covers the ground and breaks up play could come in very handy given that Man United’s midfield spent much of last term chasing shadows and trudging through treacle.
Collyer moved to the North West from Brighton and Hove Albion back in 2022.
And he admits that, while he currently lacks the trademark pinpoint passing of Mainoo, the energy with which he dashes across the turf is an element of his game he takes particular pride in.
Carrington kid values Casemiro lessons
“I’d say, with me, a lot of my work is off the ball,” Collyer explains. “Predominantly, I’m a really busy player. I like to get about the pitch.
“An area of my game I’d like to improve on is in possession. So I think the only way you’re going to get better is by demanding the ball, getting on it and not backing away from situations when you could.”
Collyer has also spoken of his joy at playing alongside the highly-decorated Casemiro during Man United’s pre-season tour of the USA.
A senior debut – probably off the bench – during next weekend’s Community Shield re-match with Man City at the national stadium would be a fitting reward for a summer of real progress.
“You never really know what’s going to happen in your career so you need to enjoy these moments,” Collyer adds. “First off, when you’re on the bench, I think it’s really valuable just to be in and around it, experience what it’s like on a matchday, in the changing room, with a crowd.
“Now I’ve managed to get quite a lot of minutes in pre-season, so I’m happy.”
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