Ella Toone may have started this international break on the outside looking in, but she looks set to emerge from it with her chances of making it to Brazil next summer strengthened.
Toone was dropped for the World Cup play-off games against Greece after struggling for form at the start of the season with Manchester United. England head coach Sarina Wiegman admitted Toone's performances had not been up to the expected standard and laid down a challenge for the two-time Euros winner. The experienced head coach wanted to see how Toone would respond, both on and off the field, and the results have impressed the usually stoic Wiegman.
A disappointed Toone accepted she would be watching the Greece games on TV and said being dropped would be fuel to come back even better. She then went to Spain to reset mentally and physically, putting in the work in Marbella to return to her club in peak condition. Then came the call from Wiegman, one gratefully received by the midfielder, even if she is likely to sit on the bench for the next two matches. Toone does not care. She just wants to be part of things again.
Wiegman wants to take all her trusted lieutenants to Brazil, giving them one last chance to go into battle together before she calls time on her England tenure, and Toone is in that select group. England have lacked depth in midfield since Fran Kirby's retirement, but the emergence of Lexi Potter, 20, at Chelsea and Erica Meg Parkinson, 18, a regular starter in the NWSL, has increased the competition. Wiegman admits big games "aren't the time for rotation", a point Toone can take as a positive. If she rediscovers her best form for Manchester United, she can once again become the player Wiegman turns to when the stakes are highest.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing