The Lionesses star was back with a bang in the Red Devils' FA Cup win over West Brom, and she'll hope to kick on in a huge double-header with Man City

Ella Toone's return to action this past weekend couldn't have gone much better. After a two-month absence due to a frustrating calf injury, the Manchester United star made her comeback with 25 minutes to play in the Red Devils' FA Cup fourth-round clash with third-tier West Brom, and even she would've struggled to dream up a better goal than that she produced to make it 4-0 to the holders.

A curling strike from the corner of the box that crashed in off the underside of the bar, it certainly will have whet the appetite of fans who haven't seen their No.7 since mid-November, especially with a big week coming for United. On Sunday, they make the short trip to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City; three days later, they welcome their city rivals for a League Cup quarter-final; and the week is rounded off with a home fixture against Brighton, the surprise package of the Women's Super League season who would bolster their own chances of Champions League qualification by beating United.

It's the perfect time to welcome back a player like Toone then, someone who is talismanic, who can produce a moment of magic and who, in her own words, feels in a much better place going into the second half of the season. That will be music to the ears of fans desperate to see their team enjoy a successful end to the campaign.

Getty ImagesBack in her happy place

It's been a really tough season so far for Toone, who lost her father back in September before then enduring what she believes was probably her first proper injury in about seven years. "First half of the season, I had a lot going on," she told on Saturday. "[It] probably affected me more than I realised. When I was out on the pitch, I was playing with a lot of pressure and probably not enjoying it as much as I should have been."

To be forced to take a step back, though, is something she believes has already served her well and could only continue to do so.

"I think that injury was a bit of a blessing in disguise for me to not only come back stronger, but fitter and mentally better as well," she added. "I definitely used the time well and I've missed playing. I've missed being out on the pitch. I've missed being around with the girls, so to come back tonight, to be able to get the first minutes and to get on the scoresheet, and just to be involved with a good performance, it feels nice to be back. Hopefully I can continue growing.

"I feel like I'm in a good headspace at the minute. Obviously, some days are a lot tougher at the minute and that's just grief and I'm learning to deal with that, but to be back out on the pitch, it's where I love, it's my happy place."

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTime to kick on

It's been an okay season so far for United. After being a firm title contender in the 2022-23 campaign, then falling away and finishing a distant fifth last term, Marc Skinner's side are somewhere in the middle this time around. Ahead of the WSL's resumption this weekend, the Red Devils are fourth, only outside the European places on goal difference, but seven points off leaders Chelsea.

Though they sit in a good position going into the second half of the season, it could be an even better one, with draws against Brighton and Aston Villa in November proving particularly disappointing. But there are reasons for fans to feel positive about the second half of the campaign, with them right in the mix for a Champions League spot despite their starting line-up featuring a few new faces, or players who spent most of last season injured, who have now had time to gel and become more settled in the team.

Getty ImagesTwo talismanic figures

Further reason for encouragement though is, of course, Toone's return. To hear her talking about how she feels at this moment, after a difficult few months, will make United optimistic. There will be hope that Skinner has learned a thing or two from before her injury, too, when it comes to getting her and Grace Clinton into the same XI, and getting the best out of them both in it.

Both excel in that No.10 role and it is a possibility to play them both in advanced positions, with a single holding midfielder behind, in games they are expected to win. But when it comes to a match like this weekend's against Man City, especially away from home, more defensive stability is likely needed in the middle of the park.

Getty ImagesFinding the right balance

Clinton spent time on the wing in her breakthrough season at Tottenham last term, while Toone herself actually played out there earlier this campaign as Skinner trialled one solution for getting them into the same line-up. Indeed, in her comeback game on Saturday, the 25-year-old drifted onto the left flank quite often and caused some real problems for West Brom there.

"There are other ways we can do it, but that's one way of playing Grace and Tooney in the same team," Skinner said earlier this season, discussing the latter's wide role. "There might be games where we look at three No.10s and you've got people like Hinata [Miyazawa] that can join in that as well. For us, it's about adaptability.

"It depends on the opponent's shape and what we know they're going to fall into, or I think it's making sure you have enough counter-marking in the build up phase," he added. "And what's happening now, the games are not really 90 minute games. It's blocks and chunks of games. It's game plan for a first 30, which might be about holding the opponent. Then it's, 'Right, they're weaker at this point, so hit them hard now'. It's that adaptability, but players like Grace allow you to play her in a six and a 10 and a wide forward, same with Tooney, so you don't have to change players but you can change system.

"You have to adapt and evolve and I think that we have a nice balance of that. We'll get it wrong at times, of course we will. You're going to open up. What we do have different this year, we have capabilities with [our] controlling midfielders that can do the dirty work as well, that protect your back line so you're not exposed as much. That's where I'm hoping we build solidity throughout the year."