Toby Collyer’s stock continues to rise as the young Manchester United midfielder dominated the midfield against Arsenal in the latest pre-season outing.
Manchester United suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Arsenal in Los Angeles in the early hours of the morning.
However, a penalty shootout took place after full-time, which United won.
Collyer is getting the chance to prove himself on tour and it sounds like he is enjoying the experience, regardless of losing to the Gunners. His highlight came when he picked the ball off Norwegian playmaker Martin Odegaard.
“It was a tough game but I thought we did well as a team,” Collyer told MUTV after the match.
“We did some good things, some things to improve, but I thought we had the right attitude. We tried to do what the manager was telling us to do.”
Reflecting on his performance, Collyer said: “I thought I had an okay game. There was a lot of things I could have done better, but it’s great to experience a game like today and I can take it into the next game and training tomorrow.”
Collyer started the game as United’s most inexperienced midfielder. He was asked about the valuable experience of playing alongside Casemiro.
“So valuable. He’s one of the best ever in that position,” the young midfielder added.
“It’s great for someone like myself to learn from him. Even just to watch him in training and having him next to me, always talking to me and helping me out. Other lads as well. He’s a real leader in the team.”
It was Collyer’s third appearance of pre-season in as many games.
“Really, really valuable [the experience he has gained]. That’s what everyone wants to do. Everyone wants to play in the first team, so I think getting experience like this – in a stadium like this – and the opposition today. I am taking everything step-by-step and hopefully I’ll get more opportunities to show what I can do.”
Subscribe to the Stretty News podcast Strettycast for weekly episodes on Manchester United. You can also sign up to the ad-free Stretty Newsletter. Get the Stretty News verdict on all matters Manchester United.
