The Chelsea star comes into the international break in form, and she'll hope to continue that momentum in her first camp in 10 months
When Lauren James steps out in England colours during this upcoming international break, it'll be her first time doing so in 10 months, since she opened the scoring in the Lionesses' 2-0 win over Ireland on April 9. It's been a frustrating period for the talismanic forward, who has missed all of her country's last four international camps with a persistent foot injury. She'll be desperate to make up for lost time, then, as England's new Women's Nations League campaign gets underway on Friday.
Things haven't been easy for the Lionesses since James won her last cap. Wins against France and Ireland, plus a draw in Sweden, allowed them to qualify automatically for this summer's European Championship, and thus arrange friendlies of their own choosing for the final two camps of 2024. But those games highlighted some key areas for improvement ahead of their title defence in Switzerland.
Where those problems concern the attack, James' return will certainly be welcome. After all, she's proven time and time again that she can be a game-changer and a match-winner – and she enters this international break with a bang, too.
Getty Images Sport'Showed her magic'
It was in the third minute of second-half stoppage time that James casually arrowed a delightful strike into the bottom corner on Sunday, giving Chelsea a dramatically late 2-1 win over struggling Everton. It was a difficult day out for the defending Women's Super League champions, who surprisingly fell behind on their own patch despite being huge favourites to secure the three points. Fortunately, on just her fourth league start of the season, James was able to provide the spark that maintained their seven-point cushion to second-placed Manchester United.
"If we didn't have her on the pitch until the end, we couldn't have won the game. That's simple," head coach Sonia Bompastor said afterwards. "You need to have these creative players and players with these talents to win games. She just showed her magic."
AdvertisementGetty ImagesIn a good place again
That lack of game time further highlights just how tough it's been for the 23-year-old this season. After missing the two England camps that followed the conclusion of the 2023-24 club campaign, James looked set to put those troubles behind her with a steady start to this season, only to then be sidelined for three months after feeling something in her foot in the warm-up for the Blues' Champions League clash with Twente back in October.
But the forward has been gradually working her way back since returning to action in Chelsea's 4-0 win over Charlton in the FA Cup in mid-January. She comes into this international break having played 90 minutes in back-to-back games for the first time since December 2023, and with that stunning late winner under her belt.
Bompastor was pleased with her all-round contributions on Sunday, highlighting how she "defended a lot for the team" as well as scoring the winner, while noting that "she's getting back to really good shape" after so long out. England boss Sarina Wiegman, meanwhile, is understandably "excited" to have James back this week. "She's in a good place," she said of the 23-year-old last week. "You can tell that she's enjoying football. It took a while for her to come back, but it's good to see her fit, fresh and playing well for her club."
Getty ImagesTimely boost
It's a timely return for the Lionesses, too, given the growing list of absentees that James has fortunately separated herself from now. Alex Greenwood, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Georgia Stanway, Fran Kirby, Lauren Hemp and Beth Mead are all out injured this time around, with the latter four all having a particular impact on the attack, which James can help to bolster.
One of the concerns highlighted in the Lionesses' friendlies at the end of 2024 was a real lack of goal-scoring threat at times. Even in the 4-3 defeat to Germany, England rarely looked particularly potent, with one of their goals coming from a dubious penalty and another from a huge goalkeeping mistake.
Furthermore, those they have scored in recent camps have come from a lot of the names on that injury list. Indeed, six of England's last 10 goals have been netted by players who are not in the current squad, with Stanway especially in a particularly rich vein of form before having to undergo knee surgery in late January. The Lionesses need more players to step up and provide that goal threat, and James is certainly a player they would like to think can do that.
Getty ImagesPotential to be a talisman
That's with good reason, too. James hit double figures for Chelsea in the league last season, her return of 13 goals from 16 appearances only bettered by Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw, and she's also scored for England in the big moments before, such as in her sensational World Cup campaign in 2023 and in the do-or-die Nations League clash with Scotland a few months later.
Indeed, a return of seven goals in 24 caps makes her the joint-fifth top-scorer in this current England squad, with Ella Toone (19 in 53) and Alessia Russo (20 in 46) the only players with more goals who can also post a better goal-per-game ratio.
But it's not just about scoring goals; it's about creating the chances for others to ensure there are more players contributing to this Lionesses attack. With her ability to glide past defenders with ease, draw fouls in dangerous positions and deliver that killer final ball, James will be as important in putting the ball on a plate for team-mates.