Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor has provided a further injury update on two key players, who have seen little or no action this season.
Lauren James has been sidelined since October after picking up a calf injury playing for the Blues in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
The incident also ruled her out of England’s two most recent international fixtures, which saw them face Germany, South Africa, the US women’s team and Switzerland.
Despite the claims, the 23-year-old would likely return ahead of Chelsea Women’s Super League Facing Brighton this weekend, Bompastor revealed to the media on Friday that “it will be difficult to see her before the end of the year”.
“She’s in a good place mentally,” he said. “Hopefully he can play with us in January. I knew from the beginning it would be more than six weeks, I was just trying to be optimistic. I knew it would be difficult for him to come back before January.
“She’s progressing. I saw her on the pitch and she’s starting to run and touch the ball, so that’s a good sign and she’ll be fresh for January for sure.”
The five-time WSL title winners sit top of the table, five points ahead of Manchester City, as the 2024/25 campaign approaches the halfway point. It was clear from the start that the team had maintained their high standards under the new management of Bompastor following the departure of Emma Hayes.
However, they have been without striker Sam Kerr in the process. The 31-year-old tore her anterior cruciate ligament in January, seeing her miss the second half of the 2023/24 campaign and all games this season.
While Bompastor hinted in November that Kerr could return to practice at the end of the calendar year, he has since said that won’t happen.
“We’re looking to get Sam back with us in February or March,” Bompastor explained. “He hasn’t started training yet, even changing in the group. He’s still in his individual rehabilitation process and I think it will take at least two to three months to be fit enough to be in the squad.”
