Four months. That is how long Ella Toone spent on the sidelines this season with a hip stress fracture — long enough to miss two England camps, Manchester United's Women's Champions League knockout run, and any realistic hope of helping her club finish in the WSL's top three.

Now 26, the Manchester United midfielder is back in the Lionesses squad for Friday's Women's World Cup qualifier against Spain in Mallorca (kick-off 20:00 BST), and she is under no illusions about what the injury forced her to confront.

"I think I've learned I'm not 18 any more and my body has been through a lot," Toone said. "There was a massive lesson in this injury and it was to make sure I look after myself."

What the injury actually was

Toone described the problem as a complicated hip stress fracture caused by overuse — the kind of injury that creeps up on players who push through workload without adequate recovery. It left her unable to train for a prolonged stretch, forcing her to maintain fitness through swimming rather than ball work. She returned for the final three games of the WSL season and featured in the Women's World Sevens tournament last week, where United finished runners-up to Chelsea.

The timing was particularly painful. England played World Cup qualifying matches in March and April — two camps Toone sat out entirely — and United were eliminated from the Women's Champions League without her contribution. The club also missed out on European football next season after failing to finish inside the top three of the WSL.

"There were loads of games this season with Manchester United. I don't think we've ever played that many games," she reflected. "I've definitely learned this time around that I have to look after my body much better than I have been doing in previous years."

The competition she now faces

Absence creates opportunity for others, and Wiegman's squad has not stood still. Aston Villa's Lucia Kendall caught the eye in England's previous 1-0 win over Spain. Manchester City's Laura Blindkilde Brown has started. United team-mate Jess Park has operated in the number 10 role, and Chelsea's Lauren James offers another option in that area if she is deployed centrally rather than as a winger.

Toone is candid about the reality: "You are never guaranteed to be selected, no matter what your journey has been like in an England shirt. Every time the squad comes out, you're still worried you might not make it."

She reportedly visited the last England camp specifically to remind Wiegman of her availability — a small but telling detail about how acutely aware she is of the competition for her position.

What Friday means for England

The stakes against Spain are straightforward. The Lionesses will secure qualification for next year's Women's World Cup in Brazil if they avoid defeat against the reigning world champions. England beat Spain 1-0 in the earlier meeting, so the precedent is there — though that result came without Toone and without Spain at full intensity on home soil.

Toone's own message to herself before the game is pointed: "I do play my best football when there is no pressure. I know I've been out for a long time. I made sure I used the time wisely and I feel like I'm in a really good place."

Whether Wiegman starts her or uses her off the bench, having Toone available again gives England an experienced option in a position that has been rotated throughout qualifying. The lesson, as Toone frames it, was costly — but she says the recovery planning that follows it could ultimately extend her career.

Frequently asked

What injury did Ella Toone have?
Toone suffered a hip stress fracture caused by overuse. She described it as a complicated injury that left her unable to train for a long period, keeping fit mainly through swimming.
When is England vs Spain in Women's World Cup qualifying?
England face Spain on Friday in Mallorca, with kick-off at 20:00 BST. England will qualify for the 2026 Women's World Cup in Brazil if they avoid defeat.
Is Ella Toone in the England squad now?
Yes. Toone returned from her four-month hip injury in time for the final WSL matches of the season and has been included in England's squad for the qualifier against Spain and a subsequent match against Ukraine.