Ella Toone will make England their best playing in the No 10. role on the pitch just as her infectious personality helps them off it, writes TARA ANSON-WALSH

Daily Mail​

8 hours ago

She might be small in stature, but England 's No 10 Ella Toone packs a serious punch.
Standing at just 5ft 4in, Toone is a fan-favourite, not just for her creativity on the pitch but for her infectious personality off it. There's been a running joke in the Lionesses camp ever since the last World Cup where the Mancunian midfielder can't resist flexing her biceps whenever the cameras land on her in training at the gym – much to the amusement of her teammates.
That sums her up. The 25-year-old who burst onto the scene alongside best friend Alessia Russo at Euro 2022 as Sarina Wiegman 's super sub duo is never afraid to have a laugh. When she is around Russo in particular, the two barely go a minute without cracking a joke.
Their families are close, too. Back when Toone and Russo were still coming through England's youth academies, their parents would travel together, exploring new cities, trying local restaurants, and cheering from the sidelines as their daughters climbed toward the biggest stage of all.
Toone and Russo's telepathic relationship off the pitch transfers seamlessly on to it. Once the whistle blows, their focus is absolute. Manchester United manager Marc Skinner has often remarked that there is no one more passionate in his squad than his brightest star, Toone. She's consistently the last to leave training, and Skinner has admitted he sometimes has to rein her in when she's too hard on herself after a defeat.
Ever since Toone was introduced late in England's opening defeat to France, the reigning European champions have looked transformed – sharper, more cohesive, and far more threatening.
England's dismantling of Wales on Sunday night was the perfect representation of the Russo-Toone axis in full swing. Toone's goal, England's second, came after Russo chased down a loose ball which had been fumbled by Wales goalkeeper Olivia Clark.
The England striker didn't even look up, just poked the ball to the place where she knew Toone would be arriving. Toone's initial shot was initially blocked, but she made no mistake with the second, doubling England's lead after 20 minutes.
Then Toone returned the favour 20 minutes later, cutting the ball back from the byline towards Russo on the edge of the six-yard box. Russo was able to take a touch before picking out her spot, sweeping it past Clark to bring England's total up to four on the night.
Sandwiched between those moments was another Toone contribution – a pinpoint cross from near the corner flag, finding Lauren Hemp's head at the back post.
Toone was everywhere against Wales. Her heatmap told the story of a relentless first half. Buzzing between the boxes, driving England's attack and putting in a tireless shift off the ball.
It was also a historic 45 minutes, with Toone becoming the first player on record to score a goal, assist a goal, and complete 100 per cent of her passes in a women's Euros match.
'I just wish I could have played a little bit more,' was the summary given by the elated midfielder after the match.
'They're the games I find really difficult,' Toone added. 'As a number 10 you want the space. When a team sits in a really deep block, there's not a lot of space in the middle of the pitch, so I had to find space elsewhere and made sure that I made those runs in behind – even though there wasn't any space there either. But I really enjoyed it.'
Beth Mead, a close teammate who lost her own mother to cancer a year before Toone's father Nick passed away last year, praised her resilience during a difficult time – particularly after the first game upon 'looking to the stands for your person and they're not there anymore'.
'I think Tooney is really coming to her own and sometimes in situations where you feel a little bit low, it brings you to the top of your game. I have completely felt that and done that before – been in a tough place and come back from it.
'I think you can see that she's got that kind of aura, that type of energy and she deserves everything she's getting right now because she has worked really hard for it.'
The Lionesses have looked like a new team ever since Toone was brought in to replace James in the No 10. James, who hadn't played since April, is an extraordinary talent, but doesn't have the same defensive mindset as Toone, and so fitting them both in the team by pushing James out to the right has worked wonders for England's attack.
James and Toone linked up well on Sunday and England have scored 10 goals in two games ever since Sarina Wiegman made those tweaks – after recording just two shots on target in the France game.
It helps, too, that Toone knows this midfield well. She's spent long stretches playing alongside Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway, and those relationships, built over time, are now second nature.
Stanway summed it up best: 'Me, Keira and Tooney have just got a really good relationship with each other. We communicate and we look at each other. We speak constantly. I like to be in the pocket. (Toone) likes to be in the pocket. Keira likes to be on the ball.'
And then, she added with a smile: 'I think Tooney gets joy from creating – so assists, goals, making sure that she's in that final third. And then for me on the other side, I get joy from smashing people.'
Toone may have been frustrated by being withdrawn after 45 minutes on Sunday, but if anything, it was Wiegman's biggest compliment. The Dutch coach is going to desperately need her No 10 fit and strong for the tasks that lie ahead.