Ella Toone Embraces Comeback After Injury Setback, Ready for Spain Clash
Ella Toone has emerged from a challenging four-month recovery period, stating she learned a "massive lesson" from her recent hip injury. The Manchester United midfielder is now set to contribute to the national team as England prepares for a crucial match against Spain on Friday in Mallorca at 20:00 BST. Toone's injury, described as a "complicated" hip stress fracture, stemmed from overuse, sidelining her for significant parts of the season, including key Women's World Cup qualifying matches in March and April. Despite her absence, she made a notable return for the last three games of the Women's Super League, where United finished as runners-up to Chelsea. Reflecting on her time away from the pitch, Toone expressed: "It's been a long time. I've driven my family up the wall with not being able to play." "I knew I had to keep working hard and get myself in the best place possible to be ready for this camp. I'm buzzing to be back." Toone acknowledged the importance of self-care moving forward, stating: "I think I've learned I'm not 18 any more and my body has been through a lot." "There was a massive lesson in this injury and it was to make sure I look after myself." Her commitment to fitness during recovery included swimming and using upcoming matches as motivation. The Lionesses aim to secure a spot in next year's World Cup in Brazil, needing only to avoid defeat against the reigning world champions. As Toone looks ahead, she emphasizes the need for better body management: "I've definitely learned this time around that I have to look after my body much better than I have been doing in previous years." "I want to prolong my career as much as I can." With her return, Toone is ready to make a significant impact for England and is eager to contribute to their World Cup qualification journey.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-06-04