Lauren James may function in its place in Sunday’s pleasant in opposition to Jamaica at King Energy Stadium as England proceed to rigorously handle the ahead’s return to health on the eve of the Girls’s Euros.
James has not performed since struggling a hamstring damage throughout England’s victory over Belgium at Ashton Gate in April however is on observe along with her restoration, with the Lionesses more and more optimistic she will make a big effect for the defending champions in Switzerland.
Sarina Wiegman mentioned: “She’s doing rather well, however she hasn’t performed video games but. However she’s in an excellent place. She is going to seemingly come off the bench, we are able to handle {that a} bit. She confirmed up within the coaching session[s] rather well.
“That is the primary time shortly that she’s coming right into a recreation and [she needs to] get by means of that. Then we’ll take it from there in direction of the match.”
The England defender Jess Carter, a former teammate of James at Chelsea, mentioned : “It’s actually thrilling seeing LJ again. Everyone knows she is an unimaginable footballer, however I feel essentially the most spectacular factor for me is that she has come again in like a brand new participant.
“Possibly the damage was a little bit of a blessing in disguise – she simply seems so recent, so sharp, and he or she actually impacts the sport and the crew. And he or she is a ache to play in opposition to. Good luck to any of the opposite gamers having to play in opposition to her within the match.”
Wiegman confirmed that each one her squad is obtainable to play 90 minutes in opposition to Jamaica, together with Georgia Stanway, who returned from a knee damage on the finish of Could.
England face France on 5 July of their Group D opener in Zurich, earlier than conferences with the Netherlands and Wales in a tricky group.
On Friday, the FA’s chief government, Mark Bullingham, mentioned her job was secure no matter whether or not England had been knocked out of the Euros on the group stage. Wiegman mentioned: “We’re going into a brand new match now and I really feel very joyful right here. I’m excited. I’m not trying an excessive amount of forward – the contract is till 2027, and I’ve at all times felt a lot assist from Mark and the board, and I nonetheless really feel that method.
“We’re satisfied that we are able to do rather well [in Switzerland]. We’re conscious that our group is absolutely, actually powerful with unimaginable groups in it. However we’re going to do every little thing to get out of that group stage and do rather well within the match once more.”
