The England star on the bench for Manchester City against United in WSL derby | OneFootball

Grace Clinton signs for Manchester City Women on deadline day at Manchester City Academy on September 04, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Declan Lloyd/Manchester City FC)

Grace Clinton will start on the bench for Manchester City as they take on Manchester United in the Barclays Women’s Super League at the Etihad on Saturday afternoon.

Clinton signed for City from United in September but has struggled for match fitness due to a series of injuries since then.

Andree Jeglertz has named Lauren Hemp in the starting line-up after several weeks out because of an ankle injury.

Manchester United team news: Safia Middleton-Patel starts

For United, Safia Middleton-Patel continues in goal, with Phallon Tullis Joyce still ruled out with a facial injury.

Ella Toone returns to the starting line-up after coming off the bench in United’s UEFA Women’s Champions League win against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek.

And Jess Park will also start against her former club.

City start the day on top of the league, one point ahead of Chelsea, and four points ahead of United, in third.

They are on a run of six matches unbeaten in the WSL.

United lost their last WSL match to Aston Villa, falling 1-0 to a Miri Taylor goal.

Full team line-ups

Manchester City: Ayaka Yamashita, Jade Rose, Rebecca Knaak, Leila Ouahabi, Kerstin Casparij (C), Laura Blindkilde Brown, Yui Hasegawa, Lauren Hemp, Aoba Fujino, Vivianne Miedema, Bunny Shaw.

Subs: Khiara Keating, Grace Clinton, Laura Coombs, Laura Wienroither, Sydney Lohmann, Iman Beney, Gracie Prior, Codie Thomas, Amelia Oldroyd

Manchester United: Safia Middleton-Patel, Anna Sandberg, Maya Le Tissier, Ella Toone, Jess Park, Elisabeth Terland, Leah Galton, Jayde Riviere, Dominique Janssen, Julia Zigiotti, Hinata Miyazawa.

Subs: Kayla Rendell, Hannah Blundell, Gabby George, Simi Awujo, Lisa Naalsund, Fridolina Rolfo, Mared Griffiths, Melvine Malard, Rachel Williams.

Match officials

Referee: Grace Lowe

Assistant referee 1: Georgia Ball

Assistant referee 2: Leoni Harland

Fourth official: Anthony Backhouse