Lauren James has won 27 England caps Chelsea forward Lauren James is available to play against Jamaica in a boost to England's Euro 2025 preparations - her first match since April after recovering from a hamstring injury. The 23-year-old has not featured for club or country in three months so is expected to come on as a substitute in England's final friendly on Sunday at 17:00 BST. Sarina Wiegman's side begin the defence of their European title in Switzerland on 5 July when they face France in their group opener. "We have to manage the minutes. She's doing really well, but of course she hasn't played games yet. But she's in a good place," said Wiegman when asked if James could feature at the King Power Stadium. "She will likely come off the bench - we can manage that a bit. "She showed up in the training sessions really well. She could cope with loads and recover from loads. "Her performance has been really good. She's ready; we're just still growing into minutes. This is the first time in a while that she's coming into a game. "She [needs to] get through that. Then we'll take it from there towards the tournament." James was one of the stars of England's route to the 2023 Womenâs World Cup final, with three goals and three assists in the group stages before being sent off in the last-16 victory over Nigeria. England defender Jess Carter said it was "exciting" to see James back in training and is confident she can have an impact in the tournament. "The most impressive thing for me is that she has come back as almost a new player," said Carter. "She looks so fresh and sharp. She is a pain to play against. Good luck to anyone having to play against her in the tournament." Gotham FC defender Carter is hoping to push into Wiegmanâs starting XI but says the competition in the squad is "great". "There is not one chance where you can be complacent. You have to be at the highest level every training session, every game, because if you don't, you're probably not going to play," said Carter. "That's what we want as players - to have players that can compete in multiple positions and perform at the highest level." Head here to get involved
James set to return for England against Jamaica
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"Lauren James to Make Return for England in Friendly Against Jamaica"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Lauren James, the Chelsea forward with 27 caps for England, is set to return to the national team for their upcoming friendly match against Jamaica. This match marks her first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury in April, and it comes as a significant boost to England's preparations for Euro 2025. Head coach Sarina Wiegman indicated that while James has shown good progress in training, she is likely to be used as a substitute during the game scheduled for Sunday at 17:00 BST. Wiegman emphasized the importance of managing James's minutes on the pitch, given her absence from competitive play for three months. She expressed confidence in James's readiness, noting that the player has been able to cope well with training loads and has demonstrated impressive performance during sessions. The coaching staff is focused on gradually increasing her playing time, especially as they look ahead to their tournament opener against France on July 5 in Switzerland.
James played a vital role in England's journey to the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, contributing three goals and three assists during the group stages before receiving a red card in the knockout match against Nigeria. Her teammate, defender Jess Carter, expressed excitement about James's return, highlighting that she appears revitalized and sharper than before her injury. Carter remarked that James's presence is formidable for opponents, suggesting that her reintegration into the squad will be a significant advantage for England as they prepare for the tournament. Carter also noted the competitive nature of the squad, emphasizing the need for players to consistently perform at their best in training and matches to secure a place in the starting lineup. This depth in talent is seen as a positive aspect of the team's preparations as they aim to defend their European title.
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