ELLA TOONE and Hayley Ladd have been tipped to help Manchester United bounce back from league heartache.
And Marc Skinner has warned his United side they must play on the edge to keep their WSL dream alive.
The Red Devils head to leaders Arsenal today with the Gunners having won three of their last four league meetings.
A win for the visitors would leave them just two points behind the North London giants.
But their last victory against the Gunners came back in November 2020 — when forward Toone netted a dramatic late winner.
And head coach Skinner is backing Toone, 22, and 28-year-old Ladd to make an impression today.
Both were suspended for United’s 3-1 FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup semi-final loss on Wednesday night.
And the Red Devils boss, 38, said: “Big games bring out the best in big players. Both are super competitive. You’ve only got to say the right words and they’re just ready to go.
“If you know Ella Toone’s character, you would know she would fight her own shadow — she’s just that competitive.
Most read in Football
SHORT BACK & SIDES 
Grealish shaves off iconic locks as Man City star shows new short hair
Elanga MISSES crucial pen as Boro THROUGH in FA Cup
Wayne Rooney banned from going out alone by Coleen as he gets chaperone
Watch cringe moment McGeady reminds reporter he STILL plays for Sunderland
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
“I’m pretty sure they’ll both be ready should they be called upon in a very, very tough game where their qualities will be needed.
“I’m trying to get our players to play on the edge of their performance every time they go out.
“There’s simply no room for us to be average, in our mentality and our performances.”
United’s clash with the league leaders comes six days on from Skinner handing a senior debut to Karna Solskjaer.
And Skinner sees similarities in the playing style of his ambitious forward, 19, and her father — Old Trafford hero, Ole.
He added: “She has this wonderful calmness and I think Ole absolutely had that for the club.
“We call them natural goalscorers but I think that does a disservice to the work that they do.
“It only appears natural when you watch it but it’s practised and that’s all credit to the work that they do.”
Arsenal have conceded just once against United in their previous four WSL fixtures.
⚽ Read our Transfer News Live blog for the very latest rumours, gossip and done deals
However, the last competitive clash between the sides saw Jonas Eidevall’s stars suffer a League Cup quarterfinal defeat in January.
Yet the Gunners boss is confident today’s clash will be different.
Eidevall, 39, said: “We know United have been playing well lately. But we have a clear understanding of what we need to do to win.”
Source: Read Full Article