Toby Collyer just proved he can do what Casemiro no longer can, Man Utd whizkid makes statement

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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim showed faith in midfield talent Toby Collyer with a start in the ‘Battle of Britain’.

Toby Collyer put himself in the Manchester United starting conversation after a very impressive cameo against Southampton last week.

It might even have been a mistake for United not to start Collyer against Brighton.

Against Rangers he was rewarded with his first start, and played 73 minutes in Manchester United’s 2-1 win, the score 1-0 at the time of his substitution.

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Toby Collyer can play alongside Christian Eriksen

This was a new combination in midfield, Toby Collyer alongside veteran midfielder Christian Eriksen.

On one hand, this could have helped Collyer, having Eriksen’s considerable experience alongside him in central midfield.

But playing alongside Christian Eriksen is no easy task nowadays. Just ask Casemiro.

The axis of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen is one that worked for Manchester United in the first half of the 2022/23 season.

Nowadays, it’s a horror show. Casemiro and Eriksen were the midfield that was torn apart against Crystal Palace last season.

And more recently, they were overrun against Newcastle in the opening 30 minutes before Kobbie Mainoo was sent on at Joshua Zirkzee’s expense, to save further embarrassment.

It prompted Gary Neville to blast: “They should never be playing together with a combined age of 64.”

Collyer did his task well, hiding Eriksen’s deficiencies, while he had a little help with Bruno Fernandes dropping deep too, he did everything demanded of him.

Collyer very impressive for United

Toby Collyer had extra work to do to compensate for Eriksen’s lack of mobility, and while this game was not quite played with the same frenetic pace as a Premier League game, the 21-year-old did his job very well.

Collyer understands the position well, and shook off an early error to really show his composure, completing 94 per cent of his passes through the game.

He has overtaken Casemiro in the pecking order, that was evident before this game, and he did not let the side down at all.

Collyer has come in for United at a tough time, with the side not playing well, yet he does not look afraid at all, and is embracing the opportunity.