“One of the best ever…” – The forgotten Manchester United man who helped Toby Collyer and Kobbie Mainoo

Toby Collyer is emerging as a serious option for Ruben Amorim to use in his Manchester United lineup this season.

Collyer, 20, made his Manchester United debut at the beginning of the season and has impressed behind the scenes at Carrington since being promoted from the Under-21s.

The young midfielder had a period out of action due to injury but has recently come back into the picture for Ruben Amorim and made three consecutive appearances from the bench.

Calls for him to start games have started, and he is not the first Academy midfielder to emerge as a first-team option in the last year.

Kobbie Mainoo made his full Premier League debut in November 2023 and has been an important player in the first-team ever since.

Casemiro’s influence on Mainoo and Collyer

Mainoo and Collyer have both praised the impact of Casemiro in their early development in the first-team environment at Old Trafford.

Speaking in pre-season last summer about playing with the Brazilian midfielder, Collyer said: “It’s so valuable, he’s one of the best ever in that position, it’s great for someone like myself to learn from him.

“Even just to watch him in training and have him next to me, talking to me and always helping me out, as well as the other lads. He’s a real leader in the team.”

It was a similar story for Mainoo, who has played regularly alongside Casemiro since his arrival in the first-team squad.

“I mean, in training, you can see it a lot in the way he moves the ball so quickly and the way he sees these passes that not many other people see,” the 19-year-old said last year.

“So I try to watch him closely and see when he’s looking, when he’s scanning and when he’s looking and what he’s seeing, and try to pick that up in my game so I can be effective as well.”

Casemiro become forgotten man under Amorim

Under Amorim so far, Casemiro’s role has been very limited. Since victory against Everton on 1 December, the Brazilian has made just three appearances.

Mainoo is starting consistently and Collyer is emerging as an option, while the 32-year-old midfielder is starting to become a forgotten man.

However, while Casemiro’s time at Old Trafford has not been flawless, there have certainly been positives through his influence behind the scenes on players like Mainoo or Collyer.

The five-time Champions League winner would’ve undoubtably been able to pass on some wisdom to the midfield pair, alongside others.

Read More: Cristiano Ronaldo sends 19-word message to Al-Nassr chiefs about Casemiro, with Manchester United star open to move

It does appear like his time at United is coming to an end, with an exit this month or at the end of the season likely.

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