England get major Lauren James injury update as Chelsea star gets massive Euro 2025 boost

Lauren James could make her long-awaited return in the Women's Euro 2025 pre-tournament friendly against Jamaica this Sunday at the King Power Stadium. After being sidelined with a hamstring injury since April, the dynamic Chelsea forward, aged just 23, has missed action both for her club and internationally.

Her last match was the Lionesses' emphatic 5-0 Nations League triumph over Belgium nearly three months ago.

James, who has been back in training over the past week, received positive comments from England boss Sarina Wiegman regarding her potential involvement on Sunday. Wiegman expressed cautious optimism about James' comeback, noting: "We have to manage the minutes," further elaborating on her physical condition with, "She's doing really well, but of course she hasn't played games yet. But she's in a good place."

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The head coach hinted at a substitution role for James, saying, "She will likely come off the bench, we can manage that a bit. She showed up on the training session really well."

Wiegman praised James' recovery and training performance: "She could cope with loads and recover from loads. Her performance has been really good."

The coach shared insight into the tailored approach to reintroduce James to competitive play: "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 and [she needs to] get through that. Then we'll take it from there towards the tournament."

Heralded for her roles in previous tournaments, including England's charge to the World Cup final in Australia, James' imminent return has her teammates excited, with Jess Carter remarking on her quality and impact: "For me she's a good friend and we all know she is an incredible footballer, but I think the most impressive thing for me is just that she has come back in like a new player," shedding light on the anticipation within the camp for her comeback.

The player's recent injury might have been a hidden boon, as one commentator noted: "Maybe the injury was a bit of a blessing in disguise, in terms of that she just looks so fresh, so sharp, and she really impacts the game and the team."

They also highlighted her formidable presence on the pitch, adding: "And she is a pain to play against. Good luck to any of the other players having to play against her in the tournament."

England are set to begin their European Championship defence with a challenging opener against France in Zurich next Saturday, followed by further Group D encounters with the Netherlands and Wales.

Despite the difficult group, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham has assured that manager Sarina Wiegman's position is secure, regardless of the results in Switzerland.

Wiegman herself, who has already steered England to European success and a World Cup final, confirmed her commitment: "We've had conversations and, of course, I extended my contract until 2027, after the World Cup," the Lionesses' boss remarked.

She expressed contentment and anticipation for the upcoming challenge: "We're going into a new tournament now and I feel very happy here. I'm excited to go into a new tournament."

Wiegman also stressed her focus on the present rather than the distant future: "I'm not looking too much ahead – the contract is until 2027 and I've always felt so much support from Mark and the board and I still feel that way. And it's really nice that he confirms that."