Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone is back after a four‑month absence and will line up for England against Spain in Mallorca in a crucial warm‑up on Friday. The 26‑year‑old missed the bulk of the Women's Super League season with a hip stress fracture, but returned for United’s final three league games and the Women’s World Sevens final, where United finished runners‑up to Chelsea.

That fracture was classified as complicated and stemmed from overuse, recently forcing Toone to abandon training and rely on swimming to stay fit. She sat out March and April World Cup qualifiers versus Spain and Ukraine, and missed United’s Champions League knockout ties, contributing to the club’s slip out of the WSL top three and loss of a European place.

Toone admits the lay‑off taught her that her body no longer tolerates the same load and that recovery and rest days are now vital for career longevity. With Lucia Kendall and Laura Blindkilde Brown impressing in her absence, she is eager to convince Sarina Wiegman she can command the number‑10 role, and she will start against Spain.