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Football Insider

Getting the Best Out of Jess Park: A Tactical Analysis for England's Lionesses

Jess Park's outstanding form for Manchester United poses a challenging question for England's Lionesses: how can Sarina Wiegman optimize her talent to achieve the best results? Let's delve into the tactical considerations and possibilities surrounding Park's role in the national team.

Getting the Best Out of Jess Park: A Tactical Analysis for England's Lionesses

As soon as Jess Park received the ball on the edge of the Atletico Madrid box, Marc Skinner knew. She took one touch, then another to get it out of her feet and set herself up for a perfect strike with her right foot, which would send the ball over the heads of every Atleti defender, out of the reach of goalkeeper Lola Gollardo and into the top corner, giving Skinner's Manchester United an unassailable 5-0 lead on aggregate, one that secured their place in the Women's Champions League quarter-finals for the first time."We're getting to the point now, as soon as it leaves her foot, you know it's in," the Red Devils' boss said after the game. "As soon as you know she's in a space, you know that she's going to hit the target." He's not exaggerating either. Following a blockbuster summer move from Manchester City to United, this is already Park's most productive season in terms of goals and assists.Now, as the Lionesses' first fixtures of 2026 approach, the big question is how does Sarina Wiegman take advantage of Park's exceptional form and get the best out of her in an England shirt?It's not a straightforward question for Wiegman to answer, either. Previously, when she was at City, Park played regularly as a central midfielder or in a No.10 role, and thus that was where she was often used by England, bar a couple of exceptions. It's also worth noting that, during that time, Park was not a key player for the Lionesses, making just one substitute appearance during the triumphant Euro 2025 campaign.Now, at United, she's making a case for a bigger role at international level while playing in a different position. Wearing red, Park has largely been deployed on the right, albeit with license to drift into whichever spaces appear, wherever they might be, so long as she remains disciplined in her defensive duties and honours them regardless.Despite her starting position changing in recent weeks, after a flurry of January transfer activity at United brought some new attackers into the fold, that message has remained the same, whether she has lined up on the right, the left or in the centre.There are a few reasons why this might not translate so seamlessly to England.Some are obvious: England and United do not play the same way and international football is not the same as club football. Skinner conceded the latter after Park's wonder goal against Atletico. "Tonight, there's loads of space and so the game's different," he pointed out. You also need to have the right players in the team for one player, or a whole attacking line, to be given so much freedom. At club level, that can be crafted through transfers and loads of hands-on time.There's a similar conundrum here with Lauren James, who has been given tons of freedom in her role at Chelsea in recent weeks, with excellent results.James has occupied the No.10 role for England previously and been given much more license to roam than others, but it hasn't always worked for the balance of the whole team. After starting in that central position in the Lionesses' first game of Euro 2025, a flattering 2-1 loss to France, she was moved back out wide into a more orthodox role for the 4-0 win over the Netherlands, in which England looked much better structurally.But, as with James, it feels like England must do all they can to get the best of Park, especially when she is playing like this. Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingPreviously, Park's best-ever return of goals and assists in one Women's Super League season was a combined total of nine. This campaign, she's already hit 10, with six games remaining. That's on top of the four she's managed in other competitions, to help the Red Devils into next month's League Cup final and the Champions League last eight."When she was at City, she had a very defined, clear cut role and she had to do certain things. It worked for them, of course, at the time but what we've done is we've tried to negate the pressures that she'll have by putting her in spaces which teams don't get used to," Skinner explained."You stick her in one space and it can stifle the situation. If you keep moving her and keep allowing her to have that freedom, she'll create anything for anyone and she'll score goals as well."With Ella Toone injured for this England camp, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see Park chosen to play centrally. She's played well there before for the Lionesses, she knows what is needed of her and her sky-high confidence will only increase her chances of performing in these upcoming games.But could Wiegman look to do something different and maximise her talents in the way United have? Could the fact that James is also a player who would benefit from a more fluid role help? Is there a way the two could bounce off each other in an England team and interchange positions, while not jeopardising the defensive side?"I think sometimes the club can be the audition for the international period. I think it can show a lot to Sarina about how she can use Jess because it's a different exposure, right?" Skinner added. "I think [Park's] audition is great. Hopefully Sarina can see that as well. She's an intelligent human, so I'm sure she will do and hopefully we can get the best of her for England as well."Moreover, this next week could be the perfect time for Wiegman to start looking at just what works best. England will be heavy favourites for Tuesday's game against Ukraine, and then again when they host Iceland four days later. The impetus is going to be on the Lionesses' attack to break down their opponents and some creativity with the team selection and set-up could go a long way towards helping them do exactly that.It might not be a testing ground that is applicable to all situations. England face Spain in April, for example, and that match will look so different to the two the Lionesses will play in their first camp of 2026. But in the absence of friendlies, this is still a good opportunity for Wiegman to look out how to maximise the talent of Park, one of the most in-form players in the country right now, in an England shirt.

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Analyzing Jess Park's Dominance at Manchester United

Jess Park's remarkable performances for Manchester United have showcased her ability to impact games with her goals and assists, often from a variety of positions on the field. Marc Skinner's strategic deployment of Park has allowed her the freedom to roam and create scoring opportunities, leading to a significant increase in her goal contributions compared to previous seasons.

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Transitioning Park's Club Form to the International Stage

The challenge for Sarina Wiegman lies in translating Park's success at United to the England setup. While Park excels on the right for her club, international football presents a different tactical landscape. Finding the right balance between harnessing Park's creativity and maintaining team structure will be key to unlocking her full potential for the Lionesses.

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Exploring Tactical Possibilities

With Ella Toone sidelined, the opportunity arises for Park to potentially feature in a central role for England. Drawing inspiration from how Lauren James' versatility has been utilized by Chelsea, Wiegman could consider a fluid attacking setup that allows Park and James to interchange positions dynamically, maximizing their impact on the field without compromising defensive solidity.

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Strategic Considerations Ahead of Upcoming Fixtures

As England prepare to face Ukraine and Iceland, Wiegman has a chance to experiment with her lineup and tactics to optimize Park's contributions. While these matches may not present the same challenges as higher-caliber opponents like Spain, they offer a valuable testing ground to fine-tune England's attacking approach and integrate Park's current form into the team dynamics.

Published on Feb 28, 2026