Ten Hag's favored player at Manchester United wants to return! He may have lost his place, while an unexpected World Cup young talent is more favored

Manchester United academy product Toby Collyer observed the Red Devils' 3-0 Premier League finale win against his old team Brighton from the away stand at the Amex Stadium. It served as a homage to manager Kieran McKenna, since in his playing career, McKenna frequently joined ordinary supporters to watch away fixtures instead of using luxury suites.

During that game, Manchester United's Brazilian 34-year-old veteran Casemiro had already departed the squad, going back to his home in Madrid with his family. "Fat Tiger" bid farewell to the Red Devils' fans at Old Trafford a week ago, and he will not return.

Collyer previously filled in for Casemiro at Manchester United. Now, he hopes to repeat that scenario next season by returning to Old Trafford and securing some playing time. However, whether his wish can be realized remains uncertain; during a season in the Championship, Collyer suffered continuous injuries and failed to impress at either West Bromwich Albion or Hull City.

In September 2024, Ten Hag substituted Collyer in for Casemiro during halftime of United's match against Liverpool, seemingly signaling a generational shift. Ten Hag greatly admired Collyer, viewing him as another Kobbie Mainoo. In that Liverpool game, United suffered a 3-0 defeat, but Collyer's Premier League debut featured three tackles, three ball recoveries, seven successful duels, and a 100% dribble success rate, earning him praise at the time.

A month later, Ten Hag was dismissed. Although new coach Ruben Amorim initially doubted that Casemiro was past his prime, the Brazilian star eventually proved himself again. Collyer, unfortunately, faded into obscurity from that point.

Amorim spoke highly of Collyer verbally: "He runs a lot, and his ball control is steadily improving. He knows how to serve the club and understands Manchester United's philosophy. He is very humble; if he works hard, opportunities will come."

Opportunities did not arrive. Last summer, United decided to loan out Collyer because the team had no European competitions and had no need for his presence. Rumors had it that over a dozen Championship clubs inquired about loaning Collyer, and he ultimately chose to join West Brom. However, due to injuries, he accomplished little at the Hawthorns.

United recalled Collyer in January and loaned him to Hull City. When Collyer arrived at Hull, he was out of form after ten weeks without a match, and he also suffered a minor injury that sidelined him for a week and a half.

Collyer's agent team touted that he would showcase his abilities at Hull City. He seemed to do so in one match. Facing eventual league champions Coventry City, managed by Frank Lampard, Hull held them to a 0-0 draw. Collyer played 74 minutes and received positive reviews for his performance.

The United youngster also expressed confidence: "When I came here, I received full trust. Physically, my start wasn't ideal—I encountered some setbacks—but I've been working hard in training to regain my form and stay patient. I feel I performed excellently, which is thanks to the coach for giving me the right timing to play. Football is about timing, and based on my training performances, I felt I deserved this opportunity. I'm glad to be back on the pitch and to start the game."

Unfortunately, Collyer's luck was extremely poor. He twisted his ankle in training shortly after, ending his season and causing him to miss Hull's final push for promotion. Nevertheless, despite Collyer playing only about 350 minutes, it is rumored that Hull City, if promoted to the Premier League, still want to sign him again.

Collyer is eager to play as many matches as possible at this stage of his career, which will influence his decision next season. Manchester United's major midfield overhaul this summer will determine whether Collyer has a chance. Casemiro has already left, Ederson is basically confirmed to join. Will Ugarte depart? Can Mateus Fernandes and Tonali arrive? Until these questions are answered, Collyer's future remains unclear.

However, the 22-year-old English midfielder, despite having the stamina to average 13 kilometers per game, is too injury-prone. He hasn't even established himself in the Championship, so earning a spot at United can only be a fantasy. Moreover, McKenna seems to have a new favorite: academy youngster Tyler Fletcher.

19-year-old Tyler Fletcher is the only Red Devils academy player to make his debut under McKenna, having come off the bench twice for the first team, totaling 17 minutes. His family originally planned to travel to North America as fans this summer, but Scotland national team manager Steve Clarke called up Tyler Fletcher to replace the injured Billy Gilmour.

Tyler Fletcher joined the Scotland training camp last week and sat on the bench in the friendly against Curaçao. It is said to be recognition of the professionalism, diligence, and work ethic he displayed in training. The Scotland coaching staff have a very positive impression of the United youngster, and he performed maturely when he came on as a substitute.

Tyler also won the Manchester United Under-21 Player of the Year award, overtaking his twin brother Jack Fletcher, who was initially more highly regarded. Jack chose to play for England's youth teams and, in last November's U19 European Championship qualifier, faced and defeated Tyler's Scotland youth side. At the start of the season, Jack was frequently named in United's first-team squad, but by the end of the season, Tyler was more favored, being included on the substitute bench in 11 of 14 matches.

Both Tyler and Jack Fletcher were excellent long-distance runners and footballers in primary school. They often partnered in midfield, with Tyler playing as a No.6 or No.8, while Jack was more of a No.10. Those who know Tyler describe him as a confident, motivated young man with a low profile. After United's match against Nottingham Forest, captain Bruno Fernandes organized a celebration dinner, and Tyler was invited.

United coaches believe that aside from needing to improve his physical strength and athletic ability as he develops, Tyler Fletcher's overall game has improved significantly. His excellent ball control, vision, and understanding of the game make him more versatile. McKenna is convinced that Tyler is one of the academy players most likely to break into United's first team. In the final Premier League match, he received 16 minutes of playing time, while Collyer could only watch from the stands.