MU receives heartbreaking news from the midfielder who once replaced Casemiro on the bench

Toby Collyer, who previously secured a starting spot over senior Casemiro, is currently facing a difficult period due to recurring injury problems that severely affect his playing time and development.

The young midfielder Toby Collyer, who recently joined Hull City on loan from Manchester United during the winter transfer window, suffered a hamstring injury during training and is expected to be sidelined for at least three weeks. This is a significant setback for the 21-year-old's ambitions to compete for a spot in the Red Devils' future plans.

According to Manchester Evening News, this marks another low point in the unlucky career of one of MU’s most promising midfielders. The first half of the season at West Bromwich Albion was truly a nightmare for Collyer as fitness issues limited him to just 253 minutes of play across 12 appearances.

Due to the lack of playing opportunities, MU decided to recall him and then loan him to Hull City hoping he would get more game time and regain his development momentum. However, less than a month after moving to the new club, the 21-year-old midfielder suffered another injury.

Collyer was once given his debut opportunity by former coach Erik ten Hag in the 2024 FA Community Shield against Manchester City, after which he frequently received chances to play for MU’s first team. He was highly regarded for his endurance, tenacity, and strong defensive abilities. In fact, during the early phase under Ruben Amorim, he was trusted even more than veteran Casemiro. Coach Amorim was willing to bench Casemiro to prioritize Collyer, showing his potential.

However, various injuries have greatly impacted Collyer’s development and opportunities. According to Transfermarkt, Collyer missed up to 26 matches due to injuries in just his first two professional seasons.

Before being loaned out, Collyer had only made 13 appearances for MU’s first team. The continuous injuries at this point are a huge disappointment for him personally.

At Old Trafford, the door to the first team next season is wide open as veteran Casemiro is set to leave after this season, with uncertainties also surrounding Manuel Ugarte’s future. If Collyer can maintain his fitness and perform well at Hull City, he has every chance to secure a place in MU’s midfield overhaul next summer.

Currently, Collyer’s top priority is to recover quickly and regain his match rhythm. Hull City is counting on his return to strengthen their midfield in pursuit of Premier League promotion, while MU is closely monitoring his progress, hoping to find a quality homegrown solution for the future.