Coach Ruben Amorim created the first surprise in the pre-season period, when MU drew Leeds United 0-0 in a friendly match at Stockholm on Saturday last weekend.
The Red Devils fans probably forgot the name Toby Collyer before this match. The 21 -year -old was filled in the starting line -up in the opening match in the Swedish capital to mark the first time he played the main stone field for the club since January 30.
That match was a 2-0 victory over the FCSB in the Europa League group stage of 2024/25, where Collyer was drawn from the field before Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo scored a goal to win the victory, helping MU in the 1/8 round.
In Bucharest, Collyer played alongside Bruno Fernandes in midfield, and Eriksen and Mainoo were arranged in two positions No. 10.
But in fact, Collyer was pushed to the higher stone, at the number 10 right, and Fernandes went back to play with Casemiro in the center of the midfield.
The pre -season period is an ideal time to test, and Amorim coach has the right to do it when the results of friendly matches are not meaningful. However, the decision to bring Collyer to a higher kick may be aimed at supporting Fernandes – who is expected to take on the role of a central midfielder more often in the next season, especially after MU recruits Mathus Cuha.
Fernandes often played deep in the second half of the last season and showed quite effectively. The captain of MU especially played impressively in March when arranged at the number 8 right.
With Bryan Mbeumo will appear in the MU squad next time, he will compete with Amad Diallo for the No. 10 position. It can be seen that Amorim does not see this as a long -term location of Collyer.
Collyer is known as a deep backward midfielder, tending to coordinate and perform defensive missions from afar. Pushing him up as a creative “number 10” will be a big change and difficult to maintain for a long time.
MU still has 4 more friendly matches to test the squad. However, closer to the opening match of the Premier League against Arsenal, Amorim's starting lineup will gradually reflect the official frame he is shaping.
Leeds front pitch has a bold rotating. Although the Collyer testing in a high position is noticeable, it is likely that it is just the way Amorim checks the ability to play deep back of Fernandes – what this midfielder himself once admitted is more suitable for him when his career progresses.
