Toby Collyer is open to going out on loan from Manchester United this season as competition for places at Old Trafford hots up.
United’s failure to qualify for Europe for only the second time in 35 years means there will be fewer games, and head coach Ruben Amorim has warned on the club’s pre-season tour of the US that his players will have to ‘fight each other to play’.
Collyer, 21, enjoyed a breakthrough season after making his debut in the Community Shield against Manchester City almost a year ago, playing a total of 13 times.
But with United in the market for a new midfielder and captain Bruno Fernandes likely to play deeper more often following the signings of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, Collyer will speak to Amorim and director of football Jason Wilcox about the option of going out on loan to get regular football.
‘My feeling at this moment is I want to stay,’ he said. ‘First and foremost, I want to be here and play as many games for Man United as possible.
‘I’ll sit down with the manager and higher-ups and see what’s the best solution; the best way for me to develop, whether it’s stay here or go on loan.
Toby Collyer is open to going out on loan from Manchester United this season
The midfielder enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last season, playing a total of 13 matches
Ruben Amorim warned on the club’s pre-season tour that his players will have to ‘fight each other to play’
‘The end goal for me is to play as many minutes as possible here, hopefully starting every week. So yeah, I’ll sit down with them and see what’s the best solution for that. I’ll just see how the next few weeks go and then we’ll go over those conversations.’
Collyer, who turned down Chelsea and Brentford to join United from Brighton in 2022, made an impact when he played last season but the all-action midfielder was hampered by a hamstring problem that prevented him from making even more first-team appearances.
‘I think it was a really good season for me, for experience and getting minutes,’ he added. ‘The one thing I’m annoyed about is the injuries I’ve picked up, but I feel as well that I’ve learnt so much from it.
‘Obviously when you’re playing at Man United in the Premier League, the physical demands are the best of the best so it’s about knowing your body. You’ve got to do the right things on and off the pitch, and then you can’t go 100 per cent every day, if you know what I mean.
‘You can apply yourself, but you need to understand when your body needs to rest. So then the next day you can then go back and get back to the top again.’
As well as the physical intensity he brings to the team, Collyer has also impressed with his maturity and mentality, which he attributes to learning from seasoned pros like Fernandes and Casemiro.
‘I’d say the main thing that both of them have is calmness, which comes with experience,’ says Collyer. ‘The main thing when I speak to them is about staying calm but also playing to my strengths. When you see players who make it into the first team, they all play exactly how they played at youth level. They don’t all of a sudden change their game. It’s about utilising what’s got me to this position.’
That calmness paid off when Collyer made a crucial late goal-line clearance from Joachim Andersen’s header when Amorim’s side won 1-0 at Fulham in January. ‘Obviously, it was a good moment,’ he recalls.
Collyer made an impact when he played last season before suffering a hamstring injury
The 21-year-old (centre) is fit again and is open to leaving Manchester United on loan
‘I feel like it’s just about focusing on your job really; not getting too overwhelmed or getting sidetracked. I think you’ve just got to stay calm and focus on your job. The manager gives us roles on the pitch. If we can do that and help each other to do that, then we’re going to put everyone in a better place.
‘I suppose it’s important wherever you are, but the reality is there may (only) be Real Madrid and Barcelona that have the same level of scrutiny. The interest and scrutiny around this club is unlike anything else. I think like Michael Carrick said when he came from Tottenham, he came from what he thought was a big club and absolutely nothing can prepare you for what you’re dealing with.’
After starting as a No.10 in United’s goalless draw with Leeds in their opening pre-season game in Stockholm, Collyer played in a more familiar midfield role when he replaced Kobbie Mainoo in the 66th minute of last weekend’s 2-1 win over West Ham in New Jersey.
While he ponders a decision over where he will play his football this season, the Worthing-born youngster is enjoying United’s training camp in Chicago – apart from when his team loses at five-a-side.
‘It’s jeopardy if you lose,’ he smiles. ‘I think everyone wants to be the team that wins. All the other teams have to get the gear in. Every day you’ve got to be proving yourself and it’s the main goal for everyone I think.’
