Chelsea Women are back in action this weekend following their international break... travelling north to tackle Manchester United.
Whether Lauren James will be ready for the bench is still not clear. Emma Hayes is being protective (and a little bit cagey) about the ex-United markswoman, who joined the Blues in the summer.
“We’re still taking our time to get things right,” was how she put it recently... giving little away.
James has been watching her new teammates from the stand, usually in the company of Maren Mjelde – now back in training after her serious leg injury early in the year.
But James will struggle to get regular matches after Pernille Harder became the top-scoring Dane of all time, scoring in her country’s 7-0 drubbing of Malta last week.
Beth England scored twice in England’s 8-0 victory over North Macedonia, while – not to be outdone – Ji So-Yun netted in South Korea’s 12-0 thrashing of Mongolia.
James must also wonder whether she’ll make many starts this season after Erin Cuthbert scored for Scotland (even if it was a follow-up after her penalty was saved).
Chelsea’s Champions League dates have been firmed up, with the Blues drawn in the same group as their old European foes Wolfsburg, Juventus and the Swiss side Servette.
The Wolfsburg date will be under the lights at Kingsmeadow on Wednesday 6 October at 8pm, when a full house is expected.
European evenings at Chelsea Women’s home are becoming very special indeed, with fans really relishing the sterner tests that overseas sides present to Hayes’ team.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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