Collyer and Amass Set for Crucial Loan Moves as United Reassesses Player Development

Midfielder Toby Collyer is on the cusp of finalizing a transfer to Hull City, presenting him with an opportunity for redemption after a disappointing first half of the season. The 22-year-old has been on loan at West Brom, where his progress was hindered by a groin injury and limited playing time. This situation garnered criticism from former United manager Amorim in December.

Amorim, who was dismissed earlier this month, cited Collyer’s challenges as indicative of the broader issues faced by academy graduates transitioning to senior football. In a forthright discussion about the midfielder’s circumstances shortly before his own exit, Amorim lamented the inefficacy of a loan where a player remains largely inactive. “I’m always talking about the same thing, Toby [Collyer] and this injury is returning here,” he commented in December. “He played, he’s from the academy, he played here, went to West Bromwich, he’s not playing.”

In defending his strategy of integrating young players into the first team, Amorim accused some academy talents of feeling “entitled,” stating, “We don’t need to be always with accolades in everything in every situation; we are not helping. That’s why when you discuss players who go against the clubs, it happens because they feel entitlement. I believe this is a sentiment within our club, and sometimes the players forget what it means to play for Manchester United. We, as a club, sometimes forget who we are.”

The transfer to Hull City poses a distinctly different challenge for Collyer. Unlike his experience at West Brom, he joins a Tigers squad actively pursuing automatic promotion. Currently positioned fourth in the Championship table, Hull is just three points shy of second-placed Ipswich Town. If Collyer can overcome the groin issue that has sidelined him since November and secure a spot in the team, he could play a crucial role in their quest for Premier League elevation.

While Collyer faced difficulties in securing playing time, 18-year-old left-back Amass had a notably more successful, albeit unconventional, first half of the season. During his loan at Sheffield Wednesday, Amass became a fan favorite, making 21 appearances, scoring one goal, and earning two Player of the Month awards, reflecting the potential that led to his senior debut with United in March 2025.

Despite his commendable stint at Hillsborough, Amass has recently returned to Carrington and is now set to join Norwich City, a club battling at the opposite end of the table compared to Collyer’s new team. Norwich received a significant morale boost after a five-goal win over West Brom, lifting them out of the relegation zone. Amass, who attracted attention from multiple Championship clubs, seems to have prioritized the opportunity for regular playing time at Carrow Road, where he is expected to provide both defensive stability and attacking creativity to aid the team’s efforts to escape the bottom three.

These moves come at a pivotal time for United’s player development strategy. Amorim’s critiques concerning the loan system’s effectiveness have prompted a reevaluation, ensuring that the club’s promising talents are placed in environments where they can contribute meaningfully.

Collyer, who made 13 appearances for the United first team last season under both Erik ten Hag and Amorim, is regarded as a player with substantial potential. However, at 22, securing regular competitive football is crucial. Remaining in the treatment room or on the bench at West Brom served neither the player nor his parent club well.

Similarly, Amass is a key figure in United’s long-term planning. Having recently integrated into the first-team fold under Amorim, his development is viewed as a priority. The decision to transition him from Sheffield Wednesday to Norwich suggests a deliberate effort to expose him to varied tactical demands and pressure scenarios in the second tier.

For both players, the next six months will be pivotal. Collyer needs to demonstrate his fitness and ability to make an impact at the top of the Championship, moving beyond the setbacks of his West Brom experience and Amorim’s critical remarks. For Amass, the challenge will be consistency; he must prove that his impressive form at Sheffield Wednesday was sustainable and that he can rapidly acclimate to a new club engaged in a fight for survival.

As a new era begins at Old Trafford following Amorim’s departure, both players are acutely aware that their performances in the Championship will be closely monitored by the incoming management. Success at Hull and Norwich could pave the way for a return to the first team in the 2026-27 season.