'The lads in Everton's first team helped to support me during my pregnancy, they were amazing'

TONI DUGGAN ON BECOMING FIRST WSL PLAYER TO TAKE MATERNITY LEAVE

- By MATT C JONES

TONI Duggan has revealed how members of the men’s first-team squad at Everton helped support her during her pregnancy.

Scouser Duggan announced that she was pregnant in September 2022 and in November the same year it was confirmed that she would be the first player in the history of the Women’s Super League to take maternity leave.

The former England international would eventually return to competitive action in October 2023 after giving birth to her daughter.

In an interview with Joe Cole and Ashley Cole on the Could It Be Magic podcast, Duggan outlined some of the difficulties she faced when she learned of her pregnancy, including making up injuries to explain her lack of training and hiding the news from teammates.