MEN: Man Utd man’s future now ‘up in the air’ after Carrick appointment, ‘preference is for him to leave’

Ahead of his imminent return from injury, Toby Collyer is seeking clarification over his Manchester United future.Indeed, the midfielder is now having to reconsider his options after his loan spell with West Bromwich Albion was cut short due to a serious calf injury.How Collyer fared with West Brom(Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)He was officially recalled from his stint at the start of the month, although he has been at Carrington since the beginning of December to undergo his rehabilitation with his parent club.Prior to suffering the setback, he had made 12 Championship appearances for the Baggies, only three of which came from the off.While West Brom had originally hoped he would continue at The Hawthorns when fully fit, United are taking some time to assess the best route for their academy graduate.According to Manchester Evening News journalist Steven Railston, the ‘preference is for him to leave on loan’. Toby Collyer is close to a return from a calf injury. The preference is for him to leave on loan again in the second half of the campaign. Deserves a positive spell away after suffering bad luck at West Brom #mufc https://t.co/ADI7Vv1iBs — Steven Railston (@StevenRailston) January 15, 2026However, there is a chance Michael Carrick might favour keeping Collyer in his ranks as added depth for the second half of the campaign, during which the interim boss has been tasked with securing Champions League qualification. Would it really make sense to keep Collyer at United?(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)United have been knocked out of both cup competitons, meaning game time would be hard to come by for the 22-year-old, whose future is ‘up in the air’ until he’s recovered and match-ready.Collyer would be having to directly vie with Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte, and perhaps even Mason Mount on occasion, depending on how Carrick utilises him.That’s why another loan would make the most sense for all parties. As of yet, it remains to be seen which sides would want to take him on board until the summer.The former Brighton and Hove Albion prospect has made 13 senior appearances for United and is tied to Old Trafford until 2027.