Manchester United boss Marc Skinner says Ella Toone has “a chance” of being available for February’s Champions League ties against Atletico Madrid.
England attacking midfielder Toone sustained a hip injury in late December that ruled her out of Saturday’s goalless draw with Arsenal in the Women’s Super League.
Skinner said the problem was likely to keep Toone, 26, sidelined for “six to eight weeks” in total.
About half that time has now elapsed, with United travelling to play Atletico in the Champions League last 16 on Thursday, 12 February and hosting the second leg seven days later.
In Toone’s absence, United have bolstered their attack with the signing of Sweden striker Ellen Wangerheim, 21, from Hammarby on a three-year deal.
Prior to last Saturday, Toone had featured in every WSL match for United this season, scoring three times and providing five assists.
With United still in contention for the three domestic competitions as well as in the hunt for European silverware, Skinner has to balance the desire to have Toone in his team with the risk of potentially accelerating her recovery too quickly.
“There is a chance she could be back going into those windows, but it moves every day,” he said. “It is what is best for Ella as well.
“We can’t rush her back. She will be ready for football before the end of the season for sure.”
Talented Sweden striker Wangerheim is the latest addition to a United attack that has also been reinforced with Germany star Lea Schuller this window.
Wangerheim arrives in Manchester after scoring 17 goals for Hammarby to help them finish second in the Swedish league in November.
She was an unused substitute for Sweden when England beat them on penalties in the European Championship quarter-finals last summer.
Skinner said the new signing will allow his side to be “more unpredictable” in their quest to win titles this season.
“I thought we were becoming too predictable,” he said. “The Manchester United spirit is about attacking with speed and invasion – and she brings that in abundance.
“She is a lovely quiet character off the field. On it, she gets alive. She wants to take people on and run behind and I felt we had lost that a little bit.
“She is 21 but has so much experience already. She had 3,000 minutes in 2025 but still sits in the category of us being able to add lots of quality to her football too.
“She is a rare find.”
Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are back for another season of the Women’s Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women’s Super League and beyond on the Women’s Football Weekly feed
