2023 signing Phallon Tullis-Joyce is tasked with filling the role that Mary Earps has dominantly occupied since 2019, after her departure to Paris Saint-Germain in the Summer.
The successes of Earps both at club and international level make the goalkeeping role a big one to step into, and with Tullis-Joyce only making 4 appearances for United last season, she hasn’t had the greatest amount of game time to prepare for taking over in such a role.
These 4 appearances came in the League Cup, where she was able to keep 2 clean sheets, which are certainly an indication of her talents, but the opportunity to shine on the United stage consistently is still yet to come.
However, she has shown her quality within other teams, including OL Reign, who she played for previous to becoming a Red. Joining the side in 2021, she made 47 appearances in which she kept 15 clean sheets and made 135 saves across all NWSL competitions.
Upon her departure, she also held the club record for most clean sheets in the season, keeping 13 across the campaign, as well as ranking third in the club’s all-time season save list, with 110.
Previous to this, she captained French team Stade de Reims, adding to her wealth of experience before she signed at United.
She will rely on this experience to fill the gloves of Earps, who has certainly cemented her name in United history, earning the Golden Glove in the 2023 Women’s Super League season.
During her time at United, she also won the European Championship in 2022 with England and was voted Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper twice.
Although such achievements by the former no.27 are ones to be admired, it has to be remembered that Tullis-Joyce trained alongside Earps in the 2023/24 season, and would have learned a lot from a keeper at the top of her game.
These high standards would have prepared her well for filling the role of the Lioness, and between this and her previous experience, the shot-stopper will be well on her way to becoming a critical part of Skinner’s season and will be awaiting her first minutes at the Theatre of Dreams on Saturday (21st).
Although a big ask to step into Earps’ spot, adding the pressure of becoming the first-choice shot-stopper, the strength of the United defence is not to be forgotten, with the additions of Dominique Janssen and Anna Sanberg alongside the existing back-line.
With a strong defence in front of her, Tullis-Joyce will have every opportunity to add some more clean sheets to her tally as she becomes a regular in the United net.
These positive boosts from Summer signings, not just in defence but all over the field, mean that United seem set for an exciting season where they aim to improve on a poor 5th-place finish last year, with Tullis-Joyce hoping to have an immediate impact within the side to prove she is ready to take on the no.1 role come the start of the season this weekend.
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