‘Too Soon’ – Ella Toone Set to Miss Man Utd’s League Cup Final Date with Chelsea

Latest Injury Update Also Rules England Star Out of Lionesses First Camp of 2026

There are certain players whose absence you feel long before the team sheet is officially handed over. Ella Toone is one of them. For Manchester United Women, she is not just a No.10 drifting between the lines; she is rhythm, spark and personality rolled into one. And right now, she is watching from the sidelines.

United boss Marc Skinner has conceded that it is “probably” too soon for Toone to return in time for next month’s League Cup final showdown with Chelsea Women. The England international has not featured since December due to a persistent hip issue, and the latest update all but confirms she will miss one of the biggest domestic occasions of the season.

It is not just a final at stake, either. The knock-on effect stretches from Manchester to the international stage, ruling her out of the Lionesses’ first camp of 2026 and forcing both club and country into early recalculations.

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Explained: When Toone Could Return from Injury and the Big Man Utd Games She Could Miss

The timeline, as things stand, is cautious rather than optimistic. Skinner has pointed to the Manchester derby on March 29 as a realistic target for Toone’s return. That means the League Cup final against Chelsea comes too soon. It also means she will sit out a cluster of pivotal fixtures that could shape United’s season.

There was at least one slice of relief in Europe. United’s commanding 3-0 victory over Atlético Madrid Femenino in Spain has given them breathing space ahead of the second leg of their Champions League knockout play-off. It was a performance of authority and maturity, one that suggested this squad has grown in belief. But even with that cushion, Toone’s absence was felt in the fluidity of United’s attacking transitions.

Next on the calendar is an FA Cup tie against Chelsea — another heavyweight contest that will unfold without her. These are the matches players like Toone live for: high tempo, fine margins, big moments under lights. Instead, she will be confined to the recovery room, ticking off rehab milestones.

Following the League Cup final, United face West Ham and Everton in the league — fixtures that, on paper, might not carry the glamour of a final but are no less significant. Champions League qualification remains a key objective, and dropped points at this stage can haunt you in April and May. Without Toone’s creativity and late runs into the box, the burden shifts elsewhere.

Should United advance as expected in Europe, a potential quarter-final clash with Bayern Munich Women awaits in late March. That first leg, scheduled for March 24 or 25, would also likely come too soon for the England midfielder. It is a cruel run of fixtures to miss — cup finals, European nights, derby day — the kind of stretch that can define careers.

Skinner has remained pragmatic. “I would imagine we’re aiming for around the Manchester City game,” he said, referencing the derby. “Hopefully we can welcome her back then.” There is no dramatic promise of a miracle return, no gamble on short-term risk. The message is clear: protect the player, think long term.

Not Just a Blow for Man Utd: Toone Injury Also Causes Problems for England

The ripple effect extends beyond club colours. England women’s national football team begin their first camp of 2026 later this month, opening qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup with fixtures against Ukraine women’s national football team and Iceland women’s national football team.

Toone’s likely absence is a headache for head coach Sarina Wiegman. The Lionesses are heavy favourites in both matches, but there is no room for complacency. With Spain women’s national football team also in the group and only the top side qualifying automatically for the tournament in Brazil, early slip-ups could prove costly.

Toone has become a trusted figure in Wiegman’s system — intelligent in tight spaces, fearless in big games, capable of producing the unexpected. Removing her from the equation forces England to rethink their attacking balance. Add to that the likely absence of Beth Mead, who is recovering from a hairline fracture in her shin, and suddenly the Lionesses’ depth is under examination.

International windows are often about rhythm as much as results. Integrating new faces is one thing; doing so without two established attacking pillars is another. Wiegman will name her squad soon, and while England’s quality remains unquestioned, there is no denying Toone’s absence alters the picture.

Who Else Is on Man Utd’s Injury List? New Found Depth to Be Tested as Absences Grow

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Toone may be the headline absentee, but she is not alone in the treatment room.

Full-back Anna Sandberg limped off with a calf concern in Madrid and is undergoing further assessment. Swedish forward Fridolina Rolfö missed that European trip altogether, as did Melvine Malard in a subsequent domestic fixture. Winger Leah Galton remains sidelined with a stubborn back problem that has kept her from featuring at all in 2026 so far.

Then there is Celin Bizet, who is preparing to welcome her first child — a joyful life event that nonetheless reduces attacking options in the short term. And after the FA Cup clash with Chelsea, midfielder Hinata Miyazawa will depart for the Asian Cup, further thinning the ranks during a congested schedule.

It is here that January’s transfer business comes into focus. United moved decisively in the winter window, strengthening key areas and adding competition. The depth is better than it was twelve months ago. But depth only truly proves its worth when tested, and right now, it is being tested.

In Madrid, others stepped up. The midfield trio worked tirelessly, the wide players tracked back with discipline, and the defence held firm under pressure. There is resilience in this squad, and a sense that adversity has forged a tighter collective.

Still, there is no disguising what Toone brings when fully fit. She presses with intelligence, links play instinctively and carries an emotional connection with supporters that cannot be quantified. Her goals — often decisive, often spectacular — have become part of United’s identity.

Patience, Perspective and the Long Game

Injuries are part of elite sport, even if they rarely feel fair in the moment. For Toone, this hip issue represents an unfamiliar interruption. She has built a reputation on durability and consistency, rarely missing extended spells. Sitting out a final will sting; missing England duty will frustrate. But there is a broader view to consider.

United are building something sustainable. England are navigating another World Cup cycle. Rushing back for one match at the expense of long-term health would serve no one.

March 29 — the derby — now looms as a symbolic date. A return under the spotlight, against fierce rivals, could provide a narrative twist worthy of the occasion. Until then, the focus is on careful rehabilitation, steady progress and collective responsibility.

Football seasons are rarely smooth. They twist, they test, they demand adaptation. Manchester United must navigate the coming weeks without one of their brightest sparks. England must do the same.

And when Ella Toone does return — whether in a derby, a European night or a late-season title push — the welcome will be loud, and the impact, if history is any guide, immediate.