There were a few interesting similarities between Manchester United’s 2024 Carabao Cup opener and their 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace 12 months earlier.
Alejandro Garnacho opened the scoring against a then-Roy Hodgson trained Eagles side a year ago almost to the day.
The electric Argentine went one better when Barnsley arrived at Old Trafford, hitting a brace as he threatened to become the first Manchester United player since Cristiano Ronaldo to score a hat-trick.
Versus Crystal Palace, Casemiro delivered a much-improved performance after a tough start to the season. Yes, Barnsley are substantially weaker opposition – as emphasised by a 7-0 scoreline which left visiting boss Darrell Clarke fuming – but this was more like it from the veteran Brazilian.
And, just like they did against Palace, Man United lined up against third-tier Barnsley with a midfielder standing in at left-back.
Toby Collyer is Manchester United’s latest rising star
It was Sofyan Amrabat in 2023, delivering a debut performance full of poise and precision which had the Man United fans predicting big things further down the line.
In 2024, it was Toby Collyer’s turn to fulfil that inverted, left-hand side role and raise expectations as a result.
Starting out wide, Collyer would frequently drift into the centre of the park to create overloads.
If that is what Ten Hag wants from his full-backs – a role Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui may be on the verge of mastering – then Collyer’s eye-catching display on his full Red Devils debut would have done his hopes of further first-team minutes no harm at all.
Time will tell whether Collyer’s own Carabao Cup breakout will come to be viewed as something of a false dawn, a la Amrabat. His stand-out performance against Man City in the FA Cup final aside, that round three clash with Crystal Palace was about as good as it got in terms of the Moroccan’s influence at Old Trafford.
But after Collyer caught Ten Hag’s eye with his seemingly boundless energy levels and a new-found versatility, it is starting to become increasingly apparent why Man United opted against turning Amrabat’s loan deal into a permanent £21 million transfer.
“He has had a very good pre-season,” Ten Hag said last week, via the club’s official website ahead of United’s much-needed 3-0 win at Southampton. “But before this, he earned being in the pre-season squad and he earned the minutes he got. He impressed.
“Therefore, he earns the right to play.
“It doesn’t matter if you are young or if you are old, if you won everything, if you learned nothing. You have to earn the right to play.”
Erik ten Hag full of praise for Sofyan Amrabat replacement
There were concerns that, despite bringing in Manuel Ugarte on deadline day as well as the flexible Mazraoui, Man United were still a little short both in defensive midfield and at left-back.
But why spend £21 million on Amrabat when you have a younger, homegrown player ready and waiting to graduate from the Carrington finishing school and play a supporting role in a season that will stretch Ten Hag’s squad to it’s limits?
Collyer certainly had a few nervy moments against Barnsley. The 20-year-old, who’s ball-winning talents have been likened to a Leicester-era N’Golo Kante, gave away the odd free-kick. He initially struggled, too, with the directness of the visiting widemen.
But, once he settled down and Man United took control, Collyer would end the game with the most ‘defensive actions’ to his name. A tally of eleven, per FotMob. Ahead of an improved Casemiro, an imperious Harry Maguire, and even the bloodied and bruised Ugarte.
Collyer also made four interceptions – level with Maguire – as well as six ball recoveries.
In possession, Collyer was sensible if not particularly expansive. Then again, if his role is keep things ticking over and give the ball to his more technically gifted team-mates, a pass completion rate of 88 per cent is worthy of note.
Like Amrabat, the former Brighton starlet is unlikely to make that left-back spot his own under Ten Hag. His future lies in midfield. Perhaps, as a back-up for Ugarte.
But if he can do all the things Amrabat did – and for £21 million less – then the Moroccan’s loss should be Collyer’s gain.
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