Lauren James watched the Lionesses win the Euros from the stands but is now fit and ready for the Women’s World Cup as she aims to finally emerge from brother Reece’s shadow

This time last year Lauren James could only dream of playing for England.

Her first season with Chelsea saw the forward play just 107 minutes of football in the Women’s Super League in six substitute appearances. James had suffered multiple injuries before joining the Blues from Manchester United and manager Emma Hayes decided she needed a year to fully recover and build up her strength again.

The forward was watching on in the stands as the Lionesses were crowned European champions at Wembley last summer. Just over a month later, James got an unexpected call from manager Sarina Wiegman. 

James had impressed in Chelsea’s pre-season tour of America, so much so that Wiegman wanted to take a look at the forward – though in reality she was a player that had been on the coach’s radar for some time.

James made her debut in a World Cup qualifier against Austria, England’s first fixture since winning the Euros, and has not looked back. Now, with a full season of domestic football behind her, James is part of Wiegman’s 23-player World Cup squad and has been given the No 7 shirt – a sign she could have a key role to play in the tournament.

Lauren James looks set to play a key role for England at the World Cup this summer

She is close with her brother Reece, but is keen to forge a career in her own right

James has been on England boss Sarina Wiegman’s radar for some time 

‘I thought my target was the World Cup, especially being at [in-person] the Euros final last summer,’ James says. ‘It gives you more motivation and you want that feeling, so it gave me an “I want to be there.”

‘Emma [Hayes] was always helpful, she’s played a massive role in just getting me back to being myself again. She just says “enjoy it”, like start enjoying the moments.

‘I’ve had two years of constant injuries. She managed me well, and it’s allowed me to find my feet again.

‘In the moment everyone is like “why is Lauren not playing?” and I want to be playing on the pitch, but in the long run it’s obviously paid off, and it’s kept me on the pitch this season.’

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James is the sister of Chelsea star Reece, who was part of the Three Lions side that made it to the Euro final in 2021. The siblings are close but Lauren admits she wants to be known for her own career, rather than always being linked or compared to her brother.

‘Yes I do feel like that, a lot. Even just “that’s Lauren James, that’s Reece’s sister”, but I want to carve that out and be known as “this is Lauren James”.

‘At the moment men’s football is a lot bigger profile, it’s natural to just go – and I’m sure there are times when I’ve said – “oh that’s so and so’s sister”, but I think it’s just natural. It doesn’t bother me too much because I know I have my own career.’

James started England’s warm-up fixture against Portugal on the right wing, in front of experienced full-back Lucy Bronze, before moving into the No 10 role in the second half. Bronze has become a mentor to James off the pitch, as the forward explains: ‘There are experienced players around me, so I just like to keep learning off her [Bronze] and what advice she has and the other experienced players.

The 21-year-old sees Lucy Bronze (pictured) as something of a mentor figure in the England side

She praised Chelsea boss Emma Hayes for managing her well amid a run of injuries

‘I think it’s more how she conducts herself, within training and within games and picking up on little things [she does].’

Bronze clearly believes James has the ability to be a huge star for England. Speaking after the 0-0 draw with Portugal, Bronze said: ‘LJ and I have a good relationship off the pitch as well. She’s eager to learn – for a player that’s so young and talented, people forget how much expectation there is on her.

‘Because I’m the experienced player, she wants to get me in the game. I’m saying to her: “You’re the winger, you have it.”

‘It’s nice that she wants to get me involved. Give her space and she will score us a goal. She’s a young player. She’s still learning when to be selfish and when not to be and when to make the right decision. I’m just there to help her find her way.’

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