Manchester United academy graduate Toby Collyer has suffered what's being described as a "disappointing" injury setback during his loan spell with Championship side West Bromwich Albion, with a persistent hamstring problem resurfacing at the worst possible moment.
Nightmare loan spell continues
The 21-year-old midfielder, who joined West Brom on a season-long loan deal during the summer transfer window, has seen his campaign plagued by fitness issues from the outset. A hamstring injury has limited Collyer to just three Championship starts this season, significantly hampering his development and contribution to Carlos Corberán's side.
Collyer's situation took another turn for the worse during Wednesday evening's clash against Birmingham City. Having recently returned to fitness and earning a place in the starting lineup, his comeback lasted a mere 11 minutes before he was forced off with another injury.
Recurring problem worries management
West Brom manager Ryan Mason confirmed the latest setback represents a recurrence of an issue that has troubled the young midfielder for several years. "It's a muscle injury, yes," Mason stated. "I think it's challenging for him, it's disappointing."
The Baggies boss revealed he had been deliberately patient with Collyer's integration into the team, acknowledging the player's injury history. "He had a few last season at Man United, that's why I was very patient with him this season because I wanted to give him the best opportunity to grow into the demands of this league," Mason explained.
"But for something to happen after 10 minutes, it's disappointing. It looks like it (a hamstring issue). We'll assess him in the next couple of days and see where we're at with that."
Development setback for promising talent
This latest injury represents a significant blow to Collyer's hopes of gaining valuable first-team experience during his loan spell. The England under-20 international had broken into the Manchester United first team last season, making 13 appearances under current manager Ruben Amorim before his temporary move to the Hawthorns.
Earlier this month, Mason had expressed his belief in the young midfielder's potential, stating: "Toby's a young player, but we know we're going to need him and he's going to help us. I've wanted Toby for a few weeks now. He's someone that I really believe in, which is important and I have that belief in all of my players."
The West Brom manager had emphasised the importance of game time for Collyer's development, noting: "The reality is the game is the best teacher. The more game exposure you can get, the better, especially at a young age. I'm sure and I expect that Toby knows that I believe in him, which for me is super important."
Collyer's extended absence now threatens to derail what was meant to be a crucial developmental season for the promising midfielder, leaving both player and club facing an anxious wait for assessment results.
