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Manchester United could be forced into making two changes for their Premier League fixture against Southampton.
Diogo Dalot will serve a one-match suspension after his red card in the FA Cup third round tie against Arsenal while Harry Maguire came off in extra time, having missed two training sessions last week through illness.
United head coach Ruben Amorim often makes five substitutions and United ended the 120 minutes against Arsenal with Lisandro Martinez up front and midfielder Toby Collyer at right wing back in a 5-3-1 formation.
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The energetic Collyer impressed after he came on with Amad and Joshua Zirkzee in the 81st munute. Amorim had more experienced midfielders to turn to in Christian Eriksen and Casemiro but opted for the 21-year-old Collyer with United reduced to ten men.
It was the academy graduate’s fourth appearance for the club and his first since the League Cup third round stroll against Barnsley in September. Collyer was sidelined for nearly three months through injury but has been named in the past five matchday squads.
“A lot of players I had to think this week,” Amorim admitted. “Toby is training really well, he has a lot of pace, he likes to learn so it’s one more option for tomorrow.”
Collyer is open to leaving if a suitable offer is made this month but the significance of his impact against Arsenal, as well as how light United are in midfield, could ensure he stays for the remainder of the season.
Eriksen and Casemiro are both likely to leave United this year. Both players turn 33 next month and Eriksen is expected to be released when his contract expires in the summer unless he is sold in January.
Collyer signed a new contract until 2027 with United last summer and was highly regarded by former manager Erik ten Hag. The academy graduate joined the club from Brighton in March 2022.
The former England youth-teamer made his debut against Manchester City in the Community Shield and replaced Casemiro at half-time during United’s 3-0 home loss to Liverpool in September.