Phallon Tullis-Joyce ready to face West Ham
Marc Skinner says goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce is ready to return to the Manchester United Women line-up when the Reds take on West Ham United this Sunday.
The 2024/25 Players’ Player of the Year has missed United’s last three matches with a small fracture to her eye socket but has been back in training ahead of this weekend’s WSL game, our first after the recent international break.
Skinner delivered the news to reporters in his pre-match press conference at Carrington on Friday morning, when he also gave a positive update on Millie Turner’s recovery from a knee injury, congratulated winger Celin Bizet Donnum on the news that she is having a baby and discussed the challenge that he expects from a West Ham side visiting Leigh on Sunday.
Keep reading for all that and more key quotes from the media briefing…
Skinner delivered the news to reporters in his pre-match press conference at Carrington on Friday morning, when he also gave a positive update on Millie Turner’s recovery from a knee injury, congratulated winger Celin Bizet Donnum on the news that she is having a baby and discussed the challenge that he expects from a West Ham side visiting Leigh on Sunday.
Keep reading for all that and more key quotes from the media briefing…
Press conference: United Women v West Ham Video
Press conference: United Women v West Ham
Women's press conference | Marc Skinner spoke to reporters on Friday morning ahead of Sunday's WSL game v West Ham...
ENCOURAGING UPDATES ON TEAM NEWS
“Phallon is ready. Phallon has been training the last few days, so Phallon will be available for selection. Everybody else, barring only Millie and Celin obviously, [is available]. Millie is training again with the team, doing bits, so that’s fantastic news. Hopefully, maybe towards the end of this [December] block, she can come back. Apart from that, everyone’s reported, they’ve reported today but we’ve not had any forward reports [of injuries] so hopefully everybody will be available.”
CELIN’S EMBARKING ON THE GREATEST JOURNEY
“Firstly, congratulations to Aron [Celin's partner] and Celin because to bring a life into the world is the greatest adventure. From our perspective, we’re going to miss her. Hopefully, in the transfer window, we can do some work that will be able to help support the squad in that area as well. But, more importantly, the news of them bringing a life into the world and two loving parents is the main headline for me. I’m really happy for them, it’s the greatest journey you can undertake so I’m looking forward to welcoming them. Maybe, if it’s a girl, it could be the future with Romi [Hannah Blundell’s daughter] of Manchester United, so we’ll see.”
“Phallon is ready. Phallon has been training the last few days, so Phallon will be available for selection. Everybody else, barring only Millie and Celin obviously, [is available]. Millie is training again with the team, doing bits, so that’s fantastic news. Hopefully, maybe towards the end of this [December] block, she can come back. Apart from that, everyone’s reported, they’ve reported today but we’ve not had any forward reports [of injuries] so hopefully everybody will be available.”
CELIN’S EMBARKING ON THE GREATEST JOURNEY
“Firstly, congratulations to Aron [Celin's partner] and Celin because to bring a life into the world is the greatest adventure. From our perspective, we’re going to miss her. Hopefully, in the transfer window, we can do some work that will be able to help support the squad in that area as well. But, more importantly, the news of them bringing a life into the world and two loving parents is the main headline for me. I’m really happy for them, it’s the greatest journey you can undertake so I’m looking forward to welcoming them. Maybe, if it’s a girl, it could be the future with Romi [Hannah Blundell’s daughter] of Manchester United, so we’ll see.”
THE CHALLENGE OF FACING WEST HAM
“You know Rehanne [Skinner, West Ham manager], she’s been in the league a long time in different positions and is such a diligent coach that she’ll be disappointed with results [one WSL win in nine this season] but, actually, the performances have picked up. Even against City [1-0 loss in November], I felt they were unlucky in moments. Their front three can unpick any defence, they have such quality in the way they interact. You’ve got to be really focused about defending them and then they defend in their block at times, so you’ve got to beat that.”
I WANT TO SEE COHESION
“Regardless of what West Ham bring, I want to see my team perform [like] back to the start of the season, I think we’ve already played half of a season of games, and we’ve not even come into this block yet. I want to see that cohesion, and that’s a challenge I’m going to be giving us at the weekend.”
“You know Rehanne [Skinner, West Ham manager], she’s been in the league a long time in different positions and is such a diligent coach that she’ll be disappointed with results [one WSL win in nine this season] but, actually, the performances have picked up. Even against City [1-0 loss in November], I felt they were unlucky in moments. Their front three can unpick any defence, they have such quality in the way they interact. You’ve got to be really focused about defending them and then they defend in their block at times, so you’ve got to beat that.”
I WANT TO SEE COHESION
“Regardless of what West Ham bring, I want to see my team perform [like] back to the start of the season, I think we’ve already played half of a season of games, and we’ve not even come into this block yet. I want to see that cohesion, and that’s a challenge I’m going to be giving us at the weekend.”
LEARNINGS FROM LOSSES TO CITY AND WOLFSBURG
“There’s loads of learnings. The City game is just part and parcel of being in the Champions League… we had one hour to coach the players [after beating PSG]. The Wolfsburg game, we gave away too many simple goals. That’s something we need to fix. The players come back in today from international duty and there will be a great energy. They will be ready to fix it and ready to go in this game, I have no doubt.”
ROTATING MALARD AND TERLAND UP FRONT
“You’ve got to manage the players’ energy, nothing to do with their quality. You’ve seen Teri’s quality, and Melvine’s, but they’re different players. So, for me, it’s about utilising both of them in the right space. To go back-to-back-to-back games is difficult for anybody, especially a pressing team. So, they won’t be happy, but the reality is that’s part and parcel of rotation and being in high-level competition – you can’t play every minute. That’s something our players are getting used to this year.”
“There’s loads of learnings. The City game is just part and parcel of being in the Champions League… we had one hour to coach the players [after beating PSG]. The Wolfsburg game, we gave away too many simple goals. That’s something we need to fix. The players come back in today from international duty and there will be a great energy. They will be ready to fix it and ready to go in this game, I have no doubt.”
ROTATING MALARD AND TERLAND UP FRONT
“You’ve got to manage the players’ energy, nothing to do with their quality. You’ve seen Teri’s quality, and Melvine’s, but they’re different players. So, for me, it’s about utilising both of them in the right space. To go back-to-back-to-back games is difficult for anybody, especially a pressing team. So, they won’t be happy, but the reality is that’s part and parcel of rotation and being in high-level competition – you can’t play every minute. That’s something our players are getting used to this year.”
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