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Lauren James ‘never doubted' she would make England's Euro 2025 squad despite hamstring injury
Lauren James says she never doubted that she would make England's 2025 European Championship squad despite being sidelined since April with a hamstring injury.
James, 23, was pictured back in full training on Monday after missing Chelsea's final seven matches of the campaign and England's Nations League fixtures in May and June due to the injury sustained during the Lionesses' win over Belgium in April.
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She was included in Sarina Wiegman's 23-player squad for Euro 2025 and the England head coach insisted her selection was 'not a risk'.
'I feel good,' James told reporters on Tuesday. 'I must be myself if I'm back here.'
Asked if her place at the Euros was ever in doubt, she replied: 'I never really doubted myself, because I think as soon as you have a doubt in your head, then it's always negative thoughts. I always had in my head that I was going to make it. Obviously I didn't tell people that.
'I took it day by day. Lucy (Bronze) and I always kept in touch. She always would say, 'You'll be there.' Then obviously having that support, it always makes you kind of think, 'Oh, yeah, I'll be there as well'.'
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James was restricted to nine Women's Super League appearances during the 2024-25 campaign, after also being sidelined with a calf injury between October and January.
She admitted a frustration at having her season disrupted but said she benefitted from taking herself out of the public eye as she recovered.
'Obviously, it's frustrating having injuries,' James added. 'I've had two not-so-short, but not long-term injuries this year. It was a bit of a stop-start, but I just stay around my circle, stay around good people and positivity, and take myself out of the spotlight.'
'Yeah, for sure (I benefitted from stepping out of the spotlight),' she continued. 'I think not having the world talk about you allows you to focus and you're not seeing the news all the time.'
England play Jamaica in their final pre-Euro 2025 fixture on June 29.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Chelsea, England, UK Women's Football
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