Nobody likes to see Manchester United’s youth academy products get cut, but the latest developments might make that a harsh reality for one prospect.
Michael Carrick’s spell at Man Utd so far has been characterised by the spirit of Man Utd being revived, mainly in the form of Kobbie Mainoo.
While Mainoo has come back into the team like he never left, another academy midfielder hasn’t quite had the same luck due to factors beyond his control.
The greatest comparison Kobbie Mainoo will ever receive
THIS is a player Manchester United must build around!
The latest injury should unfortunately see the end of the road for him at Old Trafford, even if that risks a James Garner repeat eventually.
Toby Collyer’s breakout that never came
We’ve come a long way from Erik ten Hag taking Toby Collyer aside for a private word after winning the 2023/24 FA Cup, or Ruben Amorim playing him ahead of Casemiro.
Collyer has always been a model professional with an honest playing style, reliant on freakish athleticism and the ability to cover ground and plug the gaps.
His skills on the ball were limited, but that is something that can be coached, so his ceiling as a professional footballer was high.
It spoke volumes that United sent him on loan to a Championship side in the summer as he joined West Brom, but nothing has gone right for him since then.
It’s not under his control, but after that injury-ridden spell at West Brom, which saw him return to Carrington to recuperate, things have become worse.
Another Championship side, Hull City, took a bet on him in January, and before taking off at his new club, he’s picked up another injury.
The latest one is set to keep him out for about three weeks, but this is quickly becoming a lost season, and it’s not a surprise.
Collyer had started picking up injuries at Old Trafford as well, which allowed Casemiro to force his way back into Amorim’s plans.
Unfortunately, for a player so reliant on athleticism and endurance, multiple injuries at such a crucial development stage are a killer.
Man Utd must sell Collyer
The hope now is that the latest injury is the last one for Collyer this season, because United need to protect whatever value he still has left.
Will Manchester United’s academy midfield group produce another world class talent?
Scholes, Mainoo, ???? Who is the next one up?
If he can appear semi-regularly for Hull City after shaking off his latest injury, United must field offers for him, as he has the tools to be a Premier League footballer in the right environment.
A small transfer fee with a sell-on clause should be the game here, because keeping him on the books is not helping anyone right now.
Collyer needs stability, United need a proven contributor, and a midfield overhaul in the summer will push him further down the pecking order.
It risks a James Garner repeat, who was sold to Everton for £15m, a fee that looks like a bargain now, but United would hope for Collyer’s sake that it happens.
He has been nothing but a model professional at Carrington, so letting him leave permanently in the summer is the best move for his career as well.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
