The Comeback
Ella Toone is officially back in the Lionesses’ orbit. After being left off the initial roster for the Women’s World Cup playoff against Greece, the Manchester United midfielder has been called up for Friday’s first leg in Heraklion, Crete.
The Shift
The move comes after an injury forced Chelsea right-back Lucy Bronze to return home. Sarina Wiegman opted for Toone’s experience over a like-for-like right-back replacement. It’s a major W for Toone, who didn't let the initial snub phase her. Instead of spiraling, she headed to Spain to put in the work on her own training routine.
Receipts on Resilience
Wiegman had previously benched Toone and Chloe Kelly, stating their on-pitch levels weren't hitting the expected standard. Toone’s reaction? Nothing but class. She told the BBC, “It’s about me now. I’ve got to keep working hard and use it as fuel to come back even better.” Wiegman noted that she was “very impressed” by Toone’s immediate accountability and proactive approach to getting match-ready on her own time.
Why it matters
England needs to clear the hurdle against Greece and potentially Slovakia or Ukraine in December to punch their ticket to next summer’s World Cup in Brazil. With 69 caps and a history of scoring in massive games like the Euro 2022 final, Toone brings the veteran energy the squad needs to stay patient and break down defensive opponents. England is aiming for a dominant first-leg lead to keep their momentum high.
