England will struggle to replace the prodigious Lauren James against Colombia – but the stage is set for Ella Toone to kick-start her World Cup campaign
Seven minutes. That’s all it took for Ella Toone to make her mark on last year’s European Championship Final.
The Manchester United midfielder had already written her name into England folkore, having notched a late equaliser against Spain in the quarter-finals. But it was at Wembley, with the Lionesses on the brink of an unprecedented major tournament win, that Toone’s star shone the brightest.
Seven minutes after entering the fray in place of Chelsea’s Fran Kirby, Toone expertly dispatched Keira Walsh’s sublime through ball to put England ahead against Germany – the impudence of her exquisite lobbed finish instantly identifying her as one of the most electrifying young talents in the women’s game.
A year on from those euphoric scenes, Toone is struggling to replicate that same scintillating form at the Women’s World Cup, having so far been relegated to something of a supporting role at this summer’s tournament. But, while Lauren James’ looming suspension is a blow for the Lionesses, her absence opens the door for Toone to once again make herself the hero for Sarina Wiegman’s side.