Lauren James speaks to ITV News Sports Editor Steve Scott about her recovery from her hamstring injury
Chelsea star Lauren James has said her fitness is “getting there, an inch at a time,” as she continues her recovery from a hamstring injury.
The 23-year-old was left out of the England squad for the Nations League matches against Portugal and Spain on Wednesday, weeks before the start of Euro 2025.
Speaking exclusively to ITV News before England Manager Sarina Wiegman announced the penultimate squad ahead of July’s tournament, James admitted she was a “bad patient” and that “no one likes being injured, everyone wants to play football”.
The attacker suffered a hamstring injury on April 4, during England’s 5-0 victory over Belgium, and has not played since.
Her omission will inevitably invite questions as to whether she will be ready to lead England’s attack in Switzerland in July.
But naming her squad, Wiegman said James was “where she should be at”.
“She can’t join us in the next camp, but with her we are trying to build her with her club,” Wiegman said.
“She wants to go to the Euros, and hopefully we can get her fit and ready to go into it. She needs to be helped and able to train.”James was speaking during a McDonald’s Fun Football session in west London, a programme which delivers free training sessions for children aged 5-11, and which she joined as an ambassador last year.
“Everyone (of us) was one of these kids one day, not long ago, so that is why it’s good to have this now, so that young girls can attend,” she said.
“It’s very important because it shows we (the Lionesses) are inspiring the young ones to fulfil their dreams as well.”Providing her recovery continues, James will make her Euros debut in Switzerland.
“Playing for your country at any time means a lot, but hopefully going to the Euros and helping your country as well…,” she told ITV News Sports Editor, Steve Scott.
James, who has 27 caps for England, added that irrespective of England’s performance in Switzerland, Euro 2025 would “help young girls want to play football. It doesn’t really matter who gets what, just the tournament happening alone, and it being on tele and being advertised will help young girls look up to us”.
James also told ITV News that England would not dwell on the disappointment of losing against Spain in the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Sydney.
“I don’t think we’ll think about it,” she said. “It’s a new team, everyone is different, everyone is quite youthful, it’s kind of a fresh start.”
James was joined at Hanwell FC by Grace Clinton, the 22-year-old Manchester United midfielder, who has been tipped as a star of future England squads.
“Sometimes a change is good, and fresh hungry legs coming in is always a positive thing,” James said.
Clinton’s dynamic attacking skills might see her return from Switzerland a household name, but she recalled watching England’s victory at Euro 2022 as a fan.
“I went to loads of the games, went to the final, watching them lift (the trophy), it was amazing.”
“You have dreams, and you believe in yourself, but when you’re watching it seems so far away,” Clinton said, adding that the idea of representing England at a major tournament gives you “butterflies”.
James was subject to sickening racist abuse online during the Women’s World Cup two years ago, after she was red-carded during England’s last 16 game against Nigeria.
Asked whether she was anxious about being targeted with more online attacks at the Euros, James said: “No, you learn from the last time, going into a major tournament, you make sure that won’t happen again. You learn you’re on the big stage, you just stay calm.”
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