Toby Collyer aims to build on his breakthrough season at Manchester United.
Despite Manchester United’s turbulent 2024/25 campaign, which ended with a 15th-place finish in the Premier League, one positive was Collyer’s rise to senior football.
The United academy graduate established himself as a member of the senior squad under Erik ten Hag as well as Ruben Amorim, although an injury limited his appearances in the first team.
Collyer made his senior United debut in the Community Shield defeat to Manchester City in August before being trusted in more competitive fixtures throughout the campaign.
The exciting prospect made 13 appearances last season, playing a total of 467 minutes in his first season as a senior professional. That is something to build on next term, so long as Collyer remains at the club and stays fit.
Amorim has ‘real faith’ in Collyer, as he showed towards the end of the season after he returned from injury.
It bodes well that Collyer fits into Amorim’s system well because that could see him have a long future at Old Trafford. His work ethic could be what sees him break into the team one day.
Toby Collyer training in Asia with Manchester United
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Toby Collyer training in Asia with Manchester United
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Toby Collyer ready for the challenges ahead
Collyer is optimistic ahead of the 2025/26 season because he feels he is in a good place physically to embrace the challenges ahead.
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United fans last saw Collyer in action during the post-season tour of Asia.
After coming back from injury, the 21-year-old feels he has learned a lot and is taking that knowledge into what promises to be a demanding close season under United head coach Amorim.
“I think, nowadays, especially with the double gameweeks [we had],” Collyer told ManUtd.com. “Even, sometimes, you have three games in just over a week. So you need to be doing the right things off the pitch, to make sure that, when you’re on it, you can give 100 per cent.
“There is nothing like the Premier League. The demands it puts on your body, going from the Under-21s, is a big step. But I feel like I’ve adapted well and I think that is the main thing as I’ve had a few injuries this year. But I think it’s an opportunity for me to learn how my body works. What I can do and what I can’t do. What things work for me.
“Obviously, nobody wants to be injured but you can see the positives in it. You can always analyse things and see how this happened, like what can you do to prevent it and you learn stuff about your body.
“So, now, going into next season, I know 100 per cent what I need to do.”
This sounds like a young player who feels fully equipped to kick on as a senior professional. That can only be good news for United, where Ineos want to build a squad with the best young players in the game.
Collyer faced mental challenges with injury
It’s not easy being a young player, on the fringe of the first team, when you have to spend a spell out injured.
Collyer wants to play as much football as he can and he will get the chance to do that during the pre-season tour of the United States.
The young midfielder admits he experienced mental challenges during his time out with injury last season.
He added: “It’s more of a mental challenge, I’d say.
“Especially at the start, when you’re not allowed to do many things and maybe not be on the pitch. But it’s about getting through it and showing that resilience because, obviously, you have to show the resilience on the pitch.
“If you can’t show it in the physio room, you’ve got no chance on the pitch, have you?”