After cruising to an away victory against Rangers in their second preseason encounter, Manchester United will head into their time in the United States with confidence.

As a result, inexperienced players and those on the outside looking in have a better chance of making an impression, and the returning players should be even more numerous for the tour.

While veterans like Amad have been a source of frustration for the management, younger players like Toby Collyer have made their case for a spot on the first squad.

Schedule, Scores, and Streaming Information for Manchester United’s 2024 Preseason Tour

Many predicted that the defensive midfielder would be the academy’s next big star, and he has lived up to the hype.

He is already addressing Ten Hag’s primary concern from United last season, following his second straight 45 minutes against Rangers.

Machine Toby CollyerBy appointing him captain for the second half of the match against Rosenborg, Ten Hag had shown his faith in the player’s talents.The manifestation of that promise reached new heights in the match against Rangers, when he was undeniably named to the “first XI”—a group that included all first-team players during the first half.

Collyer, who started at the base of the midfield and kept things simple, was a ball-winning machine in both matches. He would sweep the ball upfield before the defense could react.

Because United were under so much pressure against Rosenborg, he stayed put and kept stealing the ball from the opposition.

As usual, he was a recovery machine and went into metronome mode when United possessed the ball more often than Rangers. He completed all 18 of his passes.

This is a direct result of his playing style, which has already helped United overcome their worst issue from last season: being unable to hold the midfield during transitions.

As United’s opponents sliced through their midfield last season, the players in that position were frequently invisible.

It appeared like a systemic problem when Casemiro’s defensive discipline was questioned; after all, the situation wasn’t much better when Christian Eriksen or Sofyan Amrabat were on the field.

With the addition of Collyer, they have a player who is ideal for covering opponents during transitions.

He isn’t the kind to aimlessly roam the field in search of the ball and then crash into goal. On the contrary, he is highly disciplined in his position. He repeatedly thwarted counterattacks by remaining in his position during these two preseason games.

His practical rather than showy style is precisely what United have been lacking, though he may have to do more with the ball if he is to establish a permanent place in the first team.