Ella Toone smilesPA Media

Ella Toone's goal against West Brom was her first since the 2024 Women's FA Cup final.

Ella Toone said the injury which ruled her out for two months was a "blessing in disguise" as the midfielder scored on her return in Manchester United's 7-0 Women's FA Cup win over West Brom.

Toone came off the bench with the Reds 1-0 up against their tier-three counterparts, thanks to Melvine Malard's early finish.

Holders United were ruthless at the end as they scored six goals in 18 minutes, with Toone's effort the pick of the bunch.

The England international curled the ball in off the crossbar from the edge of the box in the 83rd minute, marking her comeback in emphatic fashion.

"In the first half of the season I had a lot going on and it probably affected me more than I realised when I was out on the pitch," Toone told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"I was playing with a lot of pressure and probably not enjoying it as much as I should have been.

"I think that injury was a bit of a blessing in disguise, not only to come back stronger but fitter and mentally better as well."

Toone struggled for form in the early part of the 2024-25 season and hadn't scored prior to her injury, but picked the ball up on the edge of the box with confidence and guided it accurately beyond Anna Miller.

With her father, Nick, having passed away in September, the 25-year-old emotionally pointed to the sky in celebration.

"A lot of hard work has gone into getting me back on the pitch and feeling physically better, but also mentally better," added Toone. "I feel like I'm in a good headspace at the minute.

"Obviously, some days are a lot tougher at the minute and that's just grief and I'm learning to deal with that, but to be back out on the pitch tonight, it's where I love, it's my happy place."

'She's our iconic number seven'

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Ella Toone's father passed away in September.

Boss Marc Skinner said United had missed Toone during her absence - and her performance showed she had equally missed playing.

Her goal ended a run of eight months without scoring and was her first since netting at Wembley in last season's FA Cup final win over Tottenham.

"You see not only the reaction of the fans, the players, the staff, how important she is to us - she's our iconic number seven," added Skinner.

"She has been through the toughest of times. To come in and score the goal, you can see what it means to everyone. We have missed her.

"In the unfortunate injury that she had, I wanted her to miss it and she missed it. You saw tonight she looked sharp again and that is what we love about Ella Toone."

United show ruthlessness to seal rout

West Brom could perhaps feel aggrieved by the scoreline after keeping a one-goal deficit until the 77th minute.

But Skinner's second-half substitutions produced a ruthlessness in the United attack that had been lacking earlier.

Malard cleverly finished with her knee to give the hosts a deserved 23rd-minute lead but, for all their creativity, her side struggled for more against the Baggies.

That changed when Williams came on and powered two headers beyond Miller in the 77th and 79th minutes. After Toone's effort, Bizet pinched the ball high up in the last minute and slotted home to make it five.

Williams then rose again in added time to complete her treble from close range, before Bizet added a sixth goal in the space of just 18 minutes to round off the thrashing.

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