Lauren James ‘not a risk’ for Lionesses at Euro 2025 despite injury, insists Sarina Wiegman | OneFootball

Chelsea star named in England squad despite being out since April with hamstring issue

Sarina Wiegman says it was “not a risk” naming Lauren James in England’s squad for Euro 2025.

Wiegman has revealed the 23-year-old is progressing well with her recovery.

It is hoped that James will be fit for England’s warm-up friendly with Jamaica on June 29, before they then face France in their Euro 2025 opener the following week.

“It’s not a risk [having James in the squad],” said Wiegman. “Of course, we have some time. We still have a month.

“She is training really well at [her] club. She is at the point that we hoped she would be at this stage.

“She keeps progressing and hopefully, when she comes into camp, she can go into training with us and keep progressing towards the first game on July 5. So, we don’t see it as a risk, we are just building her.

“I hope she will be available for that first game of the tournament. I don’t know for how many minutes yet, we need to see that. We still have that month.

“She is building herself and we are supporting that. We have that one friendly still, against Jamaica, and I hope she will make that one, too.”

England will be without James’ Chelsea team-mate Millie Bright, who earlier this week made herself unavailable for selection.

Bright, who captained the Lionesses to the World Cup final two years ago, explained how she is not 100 per cent mentally or physically and that it was best she did not play a part at this summer’s Euros.

“It’s sad, it’s disappointing,” said Wiegman. “It’s not nice when you don’t feel well physically and mentally. I just hope she feels well very soon.

“England’s profile is growing. That’s life-changing and very exciting, but at the same time players are not robots.

“They have to deal with these things, too. That’s also why we’re trying to support them as well as possible on and off the pitch. That’s what we do and that’s what the clubs do. Hopefully many players stay fit and healthy.”