Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor confirms Lauren James will miss at least the coming weeks, jeopardising her England play‑off hopes.
The 25‑year‑old is sidelined for a minimum of five Blues fixtures, including Saturday’s clash with Everton and next weekend’s showdown with champions Manchester City.
Her absence also clouds selection for England’s December World Cup qualifying play‑off versus Ukraine.
James limped off in the 35th minute of the 6‑0 rout over Charlton Athletic, prompting Bompastor to announce, “The only one missing is LJ.
A scan revealed a hamstring injury, meaning she won’t return before the end of this block.
On a brighter note, midfielder Lexi Potter – who earned her England debut last month – is back after sitting out the Charlton trip.
Chelsea sit atop the WSL, having secured victories both with and without James this campaign.
Bompastor added, “We all know how vital Lauren is for us and the squad.
She continued, “My role is to devise solutions when key players are unavailable. Looking at last week’s stats, we’re a side that can find the net from various sources. In my view, this depth proves Chelsea’s true strength.
“Against Charlton, many contributors got on the scoresheet, and every player took a shot.
Even if some attempts lacked polish, every on‑field player got a chance, which I see as a sign of squad resilience. Will this collective fire carry Chelsea through the upcoming crunch fixtures?