Rio Ferdinand lauds England ace Ella Toone as she overcomes 'personal tragedy' to shine

Ella Toone prepares for the Manchester Derby arsenic her Manchester United broadside instrumentality connected Manchester City successful the Women's Super League time - with conscionable 1 constituent separating the 2 teams successful the division

Rio Ferdinand heaped praise connected Manchester United prima Ella Toone arsenic the Red Devils hole for their Manchester Derby.

Just 1 constituent separates the rivals successful the Women's Super League up of Sunday's clash astatine Etihad Stadium. Toone, who joined United's academy astatine conscionable eight, returned from wounded past week successful clip for the immense encounter.

Ferdinand, who played for Man Utd for 12 years, urged Toone to "make definite Manchester is Red" successful an Instagram station plugging the media bundle up of the tie. He besides credited Toone for overcoming "personal tragedy" this play to proceed to execute good for some United and England, the state for whom the midfielder has made 53 appearances since 2021.

Her dada died successful September past year conscionable days earlier his 60th birthday, a calamity which near Toone, 25, heartbroken. Her teammates offered immense enactment and, those that knew Nick, paid affectional tributes to the man.

Despite the tragedy, the midfielder played doubly for United successful the aforesaid period - and helped the broadside triumph connected some occasions; 3-0 astatine location to West Ham United and a 1-0 triumph astatine Everton. In October, successful a affable against Germany, the England squad wore achromatic armbands arsenic a people of respect for Nick.

Ferdinand, who mislaid his woman Rebecca Ellison to crab successful 2015, wrote connected Instagram: "Great to yet conscionable up with Ella…chatting each things shot & household and to headdress it disconnected what a beauteous & down to world young lady! How she’s dealt with the idiosyncratic calamity successful her household is inspiring successful itself fto unsocial what she has achieved arsenic a shot player. Good luck for the weekend, let’s marque definite Manchester is Red! Interview dropping 28.01… Stay tuned."

The station has been liked much than 50,000 times connected the societal media app with galore users cheering connected Toone up of the Manchester Derby. United spell into it disconnected the backmost of 3 wins; 2 successful the league and 1 successful the cup. Marc Skinner's broadside received immense praise aft their 4-0 triumph implicit Liverpool successful December.

But City, presently 2nd connected 22 points, mislaid their past league crippled - 2-1 astatine Everton connected December 15. They did flooded Ipswich 3-0 successful the FA Cup, though, past weekend, successful which Laura Coombs scored.