The Championship play-off final could determine midfielder Toby Collyer’s future. The Manchester United prospect has spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Hull City, who are scheduled to meet Middlesbrough at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
The showpiece clash for Premier League promotion has already captured headlines. Southampton were removed from the match due to Spygate, with Boro taking their place on Tuesday.
Hull, who overcame Millwall in the play-off semi-finals, will aim to defeat their new opponents and secure a return to the top-flight for the first time since 2017. If the Tigers achieve Premier League status, Hull may seek to extend United loanee Collyer’s stay at the club.
United have already announced two departures ahead of the transfer window as manager Michael Carrick prepares for a hectic summer. Casemiro is poised to depart the club at the conclusion of his contract, while Rasmus Hojlund’s stint at Napoli has been converted to a permanent deal after the Italian outfit secured Champions League qualification.
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It has been a disappointing season for Collyer, who was brought back from an earlier injury-plagued loan period at West Bromwich Albion in January. The 22-year-old has since featured five times for Hull but has been unavailable since April after sustaining an injury in training.
Collyer left United, where his contract runs until 2027, in pursuit of consistent playing time. While injury problems have hampered him this season, linking up with newly-promoted Hull would enable the defensive midfielder to realise a huge ambition.
“Everyone wants to play for Man United. That’s my main goal,” Collyer told The Athletic. “But if not, just be playing in the Premier League as an established player.”
A play-off final victory for Hull would bring Collyer closer to that aspiration, whether via a permanent transfer or a second loan spell. The Championship outfit demonstrated their appreciation for the United academy product by moving swiftly after he was recalled from West Brom.
Regarding his choice to join Hull, Collyer said: “It was a no-brainer. Hull showed interest in the summer and I had to make a tough decision to say no. I felt they really wanted me by coming back.”
View 2 ImagesToby Collyer will be hoping Hull City win the play-off final(Image: Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Collyer featured 13 times for United last season but opted to gain experience away from Old Trafford. While he has not enjoyed the minutes he would have anticipated in the Championship, the United loanee made a favourable impression in his most recent appearance against Coventry City.
“He showed that he’s a Man United player,” Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic said. “This is his first start in many months. It was a great moment to put him in, and he can now show he is a player with great potential and talent.”
Hull are just one match away from the Premier League and will need to strengthen their squad during the summer transfer window should they prevail at Wembley. Bringing in Collyer as a top-flight side would allow the midfielder to prove his worth to the Tigers on an even bigger stage.
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