Chelsea forward Lauren James, technically gifted and unafraid to take defenders on, has the potential to be one of the breakout stars of the 2023 Women’s World Cup if she can hit her best form and make the right-side role previously occupied by the injured Beth Mead her own.
She will face stiff competition from Chloe Kelly for that flank, however, and has been nagged by accusations of inconsistency, her performances in the second half of last season’s Women’s Super League arguably failing to live up to the high standards she set for herself in the first, which nevertheless secured her the Young Player of the Year Award at the Women’s Football Awards.
