Man Utd’s unsung hero has a ‘unique skillset’

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner has challenged defensive midfielder Hayley Ladd to ‘believe in herself’ more when it comes to the technical side of her game.

Ladd has long forged a reputation as a destructive midfielder capable of breaking up play and providing a foundation for naturally more creative teammates further up the pitch like Ella Toone and Leah Galton to make chances.

The Wales international has been fundamental to United’s consistency as a top flight club, never finishing outside the WSL top four since promotion in 2019. Ladd was signed for United that year by former boss Casey Stoney but had previously worked under Skinner for two years at Birmingham.

She has also long been highly valued by her teammates, winning the club’s player of the year award at the end of her first season in 2019/20, as voted for by the squad themselves.

The aforementioned Toone and Galton, as well as the likes of Alessia Russo, new arrival Lucia Garcia and goalkeeper Mary Earps are often much more celebrated, because their impact is more obviously measurable – the forwards scoring or assisting goals and Earps saving them.

“Hayley Ladd has a really unique skillset,” Skinner has said.

Ladd was left on the bench as United beat Leicester and Brighton last month, with Skinner favouring the more naturally attacking Lucy Staniforth against opponents not expected to have much of the ball in open play. But Ladd, who had already shone in a tough away game against West Ham, was brought back in for another expectedly difficult match against Everton at the weekend.

The performance, which was rewarded with a Barclays player of the match award, showed far more than just the defensive attributes for which she is usually known. It was a refined and polished all-round display that saw her impact each goal in the impressive 3-0 win.

“She’s very good at closing down in 10-yard areas, exceptional at doing it,” Skinner reflected, with Ladd’s high press directly setting up the move that led to Nikita Parris’ early goal on Sunday.

But the United boss, who has made Ladd a member of this four-player leadership group, has been asking for more of her: “I’m challenging Hayley.”