By 90min | Created at 2024-11-18 18:49:21 | Updated at 2024-11-18 21:29:57
2 hours ago
Manchester United manager Marc Skinner has confirmed a calf injury will rule star midfielder Ella Toone out of at least the club's next two games.
The England international was missing from the Red Devils' matchday squad on Sunday as they beat Leicester City 2-0, with Skinner revealing Toone had picked up an issue in training the day before.
As a result, Toone will miss United's midweek visit to Everton in the League Cup and their rescheduled clash against Barclays Women's Super League leaders Chelsea at Kingsmeadow on Sunday.
"She was running and just felt something," Skinner explained said. "She will miss the next two games, she will miss Everton and Chelsea, then we will speak later in the week to know the scale of it."
A Daily Mail report painted a graver picture, suggesting a potential tear in the calf muscle will mean six weeks on the sidelines until early 2025 after the winter break.
News of Toone's injury has also created concern in the England camp, with Sarina Wiegman's next squad to be announced on Tuesday morning. When asked whether she's likely to have recovered in time, Skinner responded: "Potentially - we don't know that yet."
England lost 4-3 to Germany in October friendly / Visionhaus/GettyImages
England are hosting the U.S. Women's National Team at Wembley Stadium on 30 November and then travelling to Bramall Lane to take on Switzerland on 3 December.
The midfielder has been a major figure in Sarina Wiegman's side, who struggled to dominate in their previous set of friendlies in October, losing 4-3 to Germany and beating South Africa 2-1.
United sit fifth in the WSL table, a point outside the all-important top three and will not want to be without Toone for long. So far, she's started six league games during 2024/25 campaign, but has not yet been able to get on the scoresheet despite netting six last season.
