“About six to 10 weeks”: Skinner reveals crushing blow for United Women as star’s injury problems laid bare

Manchester United Women manager Marc Skinner has spoken ahead of the FA Cup match against Burnley this weekend.

The Red Devils reached the final of the competition last season and will hope to go one better in 2026.

Speaking to the press in comments carried by the club’s official website, the manager provided an update on the fitness of several key players.

Team News

Skinner revealed that, “so, obviously, Jayde’s out for a one-match ban. So, this will mean she misses this game. Only Frido (Rolfo) has a little niggle, so she’ll miss this game. Then there’s still Tooney, Gabby (George) and Leah (Galton), and then that’s it. Everybody else is fit and ready to be selected.”

Potential first team debut

United have had a busy winter window so far, signing Lea Schuller, Hanna Lundkvist and Ellen Wangerheim.

Speaking on potential starts, he stated, “Lea [Schuller] hasn’t played a 90 until since November, so she trained for a week, she’s just getting used to the team, so it’s just about introducing her slowly. Hanna, we had the same conversation. How I speak to the players is I ask them if they’re ready. And they both agreed that they’re probably not ready to start right now. But coming into the weekend, it’s probably likely that Hanna will start. We’re still assessing the front options, so I think they’ll be they’ll be ready within the next few weeks for sure.”

Extent of Ella Toone injury

Skinner revealed the severity of Toone’s injury by stating that, “she’ll be back before the end of the season. So, it’s probably about six to 10 weeks, depending on how it was from the point of it. So, you’re probably looking around six to eight weeks [from now], something like that. So yeah, she’ll be back before the end of the season and ready to go. We’ll be looking forward to welcoming her back.”

He also explained that she may be back for the European games, but it is also possible she will not be available and that it is a question of waiting and seeing.

Skinner also asserted that the club must do what is right for her and not rush her back before she is ready to play.

FA Cup romanticism

He praised his side’s recent record in the cup, having reached three consecutive finals and winning the competition in 2024.

Nonetheless, he refused to take third division opponents Burnley lightly. He commented, “so, there’s a romantic kind of feeling about this cup, but, I can’t stress enough, we can’t take it lightly. Burnley might be a couple of divisions below, but they’re an aggressive team that wants to be in the WSL. I think their ownership have been very clear on that. So, we have to take this game seriously.”

Skinner praised his team’s defensive effort in their recent 0-0 draw with Arsenal in the league, but believes his side can be much better on the ball and more aggressive than they showed at the Emirates.

Rachel Williams departure

The head coach also expressed his gratitude to Rachel Williams, who has now completed her move to Leicester City.

He said, “she’ll forever leave with my gratitude and thanks, and she’ll forever be a Red, Rachel. I can’t speak highly of her enough and, as I say, she’ll forever be a fantastic part of my memories in football, both at Birmingham and at Manchester United.”

Mared Griffiths

United have recalled many of their young players on loan this winter, but one player they would like to send out is Griffiths.

He added, “we’d love a move for Mared in this window to be able to get her the consistency of [game] time. There’s key attributes or key kind of decisions that have to be made in youth development. It’s consistency of time and I think on the field and that exposure to that. So, that’s what’s going to happen.”

Featured image Michael Campanella via Getty Images

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