Safia Middleton-Patel is expected to line up in goal for Manchester United on Wednesday evening as they face Wolfsburg in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
The Wales international will be playing her third first-team game in a row after stepping up in the absence of the injured Phallon Tullis-Joyce.
Prior to last week, though, when she was named in the starting eleven against Paris Saint-Germain and then in the local derby against Manchester City, Middleton-Patel had played only once for the club – in a League Cup match almost a year ago.
And head coach Marc Skinner told SheKicks.net how impressed he had been with Middleton-Patel.
“If you dream of your debut, it’s the way it happens,” he said, pointing to the magnitude of the occasions Middleton-Patel had adapted to.
“I think Saf was excellent and the way she’s come and acquitted herself and come into the team. She has a different quality and skill set to Phallon, and we have to utilise that. You have to get used to that. It’s a little bit different. But she has a great understanding.
“I’ve just said [to her], ‘Look, enjoy the moments. Phallon is an incredible goalkeeper to try and get past, so when you get your opportunity, take it and make the best of it.’
“And so I think that we’re going to see that from Saf and from Kayla [Rendell], really, because you know, she’s on the cusp [of the first team] as well. So they both should be ready, and it just shows in football you’ve got to be ready when your moment comes.”
Safia Middleton-Patel: “Hero”
Middleton-Patel described last week’s Champions League debut as a “dream” in a social media post – with team-mates weighing in with plenty of praise.
Anna Sandberg called her “amazing”, Millie Turner called her a “hero”, and Leah Galton added: “Honestly, I’m still crying, I’m so happy and proud of you.”
And even the opposition goalkeeper, former United keeper Mary Earps, told her: “Smashed it.”
Manchester United play Wolfsburg on Wednesday evening, kicking off at 5.45pm UK time.
