Erik ten Hag can unleash Man Utd's very own N'Golo Kante who is 'different class'

Erik ten Hag will have the chance to unleash his very own N’Golo Kante when Manchester United take on League One Barnsley in the League Cup tonight.

The Red Devils earned a confidence-boosting three points away to Southampton at the weekend, with new boy Matthijs de Ligt’s first goal for the club backed up by strikes from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.

It was a much-needed result for Ten Hag, whose position as United boss had once again been thrown into doubt following two defeats from three Premier League outings prior to the international break.

But, despite ending the club’s two-game losing streak, Ten Hag was forced to field questions about his side’s performance, with criticisms over United’s midfield still present after the Saints clash.

After his horrorshow against Liverpool, Casemiro dropped out of the starting XI, whereas new £50million man Manuel Ugarte was also named as a substitute, with Christian Eriksen operating alongside Kobbie Mainoo as the double pivot.

However, with United set to come up against opposition two leagues below them in the football pyramid this evening, Ten Hag has got another opportunity to put youngster Toby Collyer into action after he impressed as a half-time substitute during the recent defeat to Liverpool at Old Trafford.

And such is the 20-year-old’s potential, Collyer has been likened to ex-Chelsea and Leicester City ace Kante.

Reminiscing on his time in the Brighton academy, former Seagulls youth coach Mark Beard told the Manchester Evening News: “Everyone would say he was the best player in the age group every year, but he was just one of them that you hardly noticed.

“He just got on with his job, there was no trouble and he worked hard. He could do two jobs in one, and his ball retention was different class.

“You don’t get midfielders like him anymore, he was sort of like a Kante for Leicester.”

Beard also revealed how Collyer could end up benefiting fellow academy ace Mainoo: “You need balance in a team. If you had three Kobbie Mainoos, you can’t play them all.

“You need a combination, and Toby will do stuff Mainoo won’t. He will break the play up and get the ball to Mainoo.”

United’s 2024/25 League Cup campaign kicks off at 8pm, with Ten Hag looking to improve on his side’s fourth-round exit as defending champions last season.