Ella Toone and Jess Park can both fit into Man Utd's XI, according to head coach Marc Skinner, after Park's shock deadline day move from Man City.

• Park joined Man Utd in shock deadline day move
• Ex-Man City star best as a No.10, like Toone
• But United boss Skinner believes pair can play together

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Devils brought Park over from the blue side of Manchester in the final hours of the summer transfer window, while sending fellow England star Grace Clinton the other way. At times, Skinner struggled to fit both Toone and Clinton into his starting line-up, with both arguably at their best as No.10s. However, he believes things can be different with this England duo.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Park largely played as a creative midfielder during her time with Man City and it has often been there that she has shone for the Lionesses, too. She can, though, play in a variety of roles, including off both wings or even as a No.9.

• WHAT SKINNER SAID

  Asked about the different threat Park could offer to opponents when playing in the No.10 role instead of Toone this season, Skinner was quick to explain that it doesn't have to be a case of one or the other. "They can play together," he said in his press conference on Wednesday.

  "It's not about building walls around these players. It's about giving them a framework where they can then move within, which creates uncertainty for defenders. That's what I want them to do. I don't want them to be rigid because that bores me a little bit. I want to be able to open the fluidity of my team while also having control of structure and counter marking. If we can strike that, [Jess] is the perfect balance for that. It doesn't have to be either or. They can play together, as well as others."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Park made her Man Utd debut in Sunday's 4-0 win over Leicester, replacing Celin Bizet on the right wing for the final half an hour. The next week or so might present the potential for her to play in a more central role though, as the Red Devils have a lot of games coming up and, as such, may look to rest Toone somewhere.

Tags: Futebol
Category: News