Toby Collyer has been slowly breaking through at Manchester United and now he has been handed some good news.
Erik ten Hag stated in pre-season that he was looking for the academy player that could be the ‘surprise’ of the 2024/25 season and so far, Toby Collyer is closest to filling that quota.
The promotion of Collyer into the first-team squad is no shock with Ten Hag admitting he is impressed with the 20-year-old’s development.
Manchester United picked Collyer up from Brighton in 2022, at the time he was widely seen as one of England’s most exciting midfield talents and the club consider him to be a rare talent which explains exactly why he is being treated like a gem by Ten Hag.
Having the backing of Ten Hag is a huge endorsement for Collyer, and now his blossoming career has taken a twist for the better – and it is exactly what he deserves.
Toby Collyer handed England U20 call-up
After playing a key role for United during pre-season, Collyer has not gotten the minutes we assumed he would.
Collyer was played as a left-back against Twente and impressed in doing so – justifying the decision to have the youngster replace Sofyan Amrabat in the squad.
Now, Collyer has been recognised by the England U20 or ‘elite league squad’ and called up into Paul Nevin’s team for the latest international break.
Collyer’s inclusion came as Nico O’Reilly from Manchester City withdrew from the squad – leaving a gap for the talented United midfielder to step up.
This is Collyer’s first U20 call-up for England, and his first at any level for the Three Lions since joining United.
United’s No.43 wore the captain’s armband for England at U16 and U17 level, so he is no stranger to wearing the famous white of England and will hope to regularly be playing for the U20s or U21s before challenging for a senior cap potentially.
Manchester United have Carrington to thank once again
Big-money signings are rarely reliable performers at Manchester United but all too often, it is Carrington which bails out the first team – with 251 academy graduates making this clear.
Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho are two shining examples of this in recent seasons with both going from the academy to being the club’s most important players on the pitch.
Collyer could be primed to follow in their footsteps, with Ten Hag looking likely to keep his job – Collyer could be about to get a big chance.
Ten Hag has already been leaving out Manuel Ugarte and with pressure set to continue, we imagine he needs to shake things up after the international break.
Collyer starting alongside Mainoo might be the shake-up needed.
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