Ruben Amorim will be faced with a different challenge when his Man Utd team host Newcastle at Old Trafford in an effort to arrest their slump.
Eddie Howe’s team are flying again and the exact opposite of that is the current state of the Man Utd squad. Ruben Amorim’s job has been made more difficult due to two suspensions.
Manuel Ugarte has flourished under Amorim but a yellow card against Wolves means he’ll miss this game, while captain Bruno Fernandes scripted his own downfall with a sending-off in the same game.
That leaves Amorim short of numbers in the middle because he will be forced to play Casemiro or Christian Eriksen, two midfielders who are the antithesis of “intensity” at this stage of their careers.
However, if Amorim is brave, he doesn’t have to do that and instead, can unleash an Erik ten Hag favourite who’s yet to play under him.
Toby Collyer should be unleashed vs Newcastle
Toby Collyer started the season with comparisons, often unfair, to Kobbie Mainoo who had a remarkable breakout under Erik ten Hag last season.
Collyer was not up to that level but that doesn’t mean he can be written off immediately, since Mainoo is not a low bar to clear in terms of talent and ability.
Unfortunately, injuries have conspired to never let him get into a consistent match rhythm this season as he’s made only three first-team appearances totalling just around 160 minutes.
He’s yet to play under Ruben Amorim as he stepped up his return from his latest ailment but the Man Utd manager clearly considers him a part of his plans.
He has made the matchday squad for the last two games, against Bournemouth and Wolves, but didn’t come off due to the match dynamic as United sought to claw back the deficit in both games.
Against Newcastle, with Ugarte and Fernandes suspended, it’s the ideal time to throw Collyer into the deep end and see if can sink or swim.
Playing Collyer achieves two objectives at the same time. Not only is that another player who can establish himself as a genuine squad option, but that will also help the tactical structure.
If Collyer starts as one of the two deeper midfielders, it could allow Mainoo to play further forward as one of the two No 10s, a role more suited for him due to his close control and dribbling ability.
Most importantly, Collyer’s style of play is perfect for what Amorim demands from his players.
Collyer is perfect for Ruben Amorim
Amorim’s tenure at Old Trafford can be summed up by a single word so far which is ‘intensity’. That has led to players getting dropped, praised, and dictated his team selections.
One thing he wants above everything else is the willingness to run a lot and outwork the opposition, which is what Collyer has made his name out of.
The Englishman is not the most flashy passer or a goal threat, but what he does really well is close down spaces by using his athleticism and retaining possession with safe and simple passes.
It’s what prompted Ten Hag to play him as a left-back at times because, with Collyer, he can always be relied upon to try his best to carry out the instructions of the manager.
He will likely never be a match-winner or a player who gets the fans out of their seats, but Collyer’s skill set is perfect for carving out a very respectable career at the top level.
The second spell of his short career so far should begin against Newcastle.
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