Toby Collyer is open to loan this season from Manchester United as a competition for places at Old Trafford Hots Up.
The failure of United to qualify for Europe for the second time in 35 years, means that there will be fewer matches, and head coach Ruben Amorim has warned during the pre-season tour of the club by the US that his players have to 'fight each other to play'.
Collyer, 21, enjoyed a breakthrough season after making his debut in the Shield Community against Manchester City almost a year ago and played a total of 13 times.
But with United on the market for a new midfielder and captain Bruno Fernandes will probably play deeper more often after the signing sessions of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, Collyer will speak with Amorim and director of Voetbal Jason Wilcox about the option to get football regularly.
“My feeling at the moment is that I want to stay,” he said. 'First and foremost I want to be here and play as many games as possible for Man United.
'I sit down with the manager and higher ups and see what the best solution is; The best way for me to develop, whether it stays here or goes on loan.
'The ultimate goal for me is to play here as many minutes as possible, hopefully starting with every week. So yes, I sit down with them and see what the best solution is for that. I will only see how in the coming weeks and then we will discuss those conversations. '
Collyer, who turned Chelsea and Brentford to join United from Brighton in 2022, made an impact when he played last season, but the All-Action midfielder was hindered by a hamstring problem that prevented him from gaining even more first team.
“I think it was really a good season for me, for experience and getting minutes,” he added. 'The only thing I am irritated are the injuries I picked up, but I also feel that I have learned so much from it.
'It is clear that when you play at Man United in the Premier League, the physical demands are the best of the best, so it's about knowing your body. You have to do the right things on and next to the field, and then you can't go 100 percent every day, if you know what I mean.
'You can apply yourself, but you have to understand when your body has to rest. So then you can go back the next day and go back to the top. '
In addition to the physical intensity that he brings to the team, Collyer is also impressed by his adulthood and mentality, which he attributes to learning experienced professionals such as Fernandes and Casemiro.
“I would say that the most important thing they both have, calmness is, which is accompanied by experience,” says Collyer. 'The most important thing when I speak to them is about staying calm, but also playing to my strengths. When you see players who get the first team, they all play exactly how they played at youth level. They don't change their play suddenly. The point is to use what brought me to this position. '
That calm was bearing fruit when Collyer made a crucial late goalkeeper approval of Joachim Andersen's header when Amorim's side won 1-0 in Fulham in January. “It was clearly a good time,” he recalls.
'I feel that it is just about concentrating it at work; not too overwhelmed or brought on a sidelines. I think you just have to stay calm and concentrate at work. The manager gives us roles on the field. If we can do that and help each other to do that, we will place everyone in a better place.
'I suppose it is important wherever you are, but the reality is that there are (only) Real Madrid and Barcelona that have the same level of control. The interest and control around this club is different from something else. I think that as Michael Carrick said when he came from Tottenham, he came from what he thought was a big club and absolutely nothing can prepare for what you are dealing with. '
After he started as a no. 10 in United's aimless draw with Leeds in their opening game for the season in Stockholm, Collyer played in a more famous midfield role when he replaced Kobbie Mainoo in the 66th minute of last weekend's 2-1 victory in New Jersey.
While he is considering a decision about where he will play his football this season, the Worthing-Born Younger enjoys the United Training Camp in Chicago-Gevenzien from when his team loses to Five-A-Side.
“It's in danger if you lose,” he laughs. 'I think everyone wants to be the team that wins. All other teams must bring in the equipment. Every day you have to prove yourself and it is the most important goal for everyone I think. '