EXCLUSIVE
Lauren James may have already impressed on the world stage, but her Chelsea teammate believes there’s still plenty more to come from the ‘unreal’ striker.
Blues defender Ashley Lawrence knows her young teammate will have a huge role to play as the club are determined to win the quadruple this season for Emma Hayes.
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Lionesses star James has really stepped up in the midst of a mounting injury crisis at Chelsea and is the second highest goal-scorer in the Women’s Super League this season with 13 league goals.
The 22-year-old’s form has kept Chelsea on course for a fifth straight league title, as they seek to fend off Manchester City without star forwards Sam Kerr and Mia Fishel, who have both been ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing their ACLs.
Chelsea have also had to survive without captain Millie Bright and summer signing Catarina Macario for long periods this season and James has thrived under the greater responsibility placed on her by Blues boss Hayes.
For full-back Lawrence, the Lionesses forward is a nightmare to come up against in training and believes there is plenty more to come from the 22-year-old.
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Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, Lawrence said: “She is a top player and already, at such a young age, we can see the stats she’s putting up this season are just unreal. I’m not too familiar with last season in terms of stats, but she’s really coming into her own and solidifying her spot.
“But it’s not only the stats, it’s more what she does on the field; she is that link in attack and she makes the biggest difference when you have her on your team. You know that you’re going to have an added threat [and] she’s going to help us keep possession. She’s so technically sound.
“She’s definitely an added bonus and someone that is definitely really hard to defend against because she does have that strength, she has speed, she’s technical and she still has so much time under her belt. It’s really nice to play with her, not so much to play against her!”
Lawrence – who joined Chelsea from PSG last summer – is gearing up for her first taste of a cup final in England this weekend, as the Blues take on London rivals Arsenal in the Continental Cup final at Wolves’ Molineux Stadium, which you can hear live on talkSPORT2.
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The match is a repeat of last year’s final - which Arsenal won 3-1 - but the Blues have an extra incentive to win this time around, with it being Hayes’ last season as Chelsea boss before she takes up the role of USA manager.
As well as being in contention for another league title, Chelsea are still involved in both the FA Cup as well as the Champions League and Lawrence says a potential quadruple would be the perfect way for Hayes to bow out.
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“She’s very ambitious and her winning mentality is infectious,” Lawrence explains.
“She’s just so ambitious and wants to push everyone to the max and she wants to get the best out of you as a player. Being here now, I’ve lived it and it’s no secret as to why the club has been as successful as it has.
“Having her manager and having her as a leader is just an example of a winning mentality. She pushes you and sometimes, it is uncomfortable, but it’s because she wants the best and the results
speak for herself.
“Everything that she’s invested and sacrificed and given to this team, you really see it. Being in the running for four trophies [is great] and we’re going [with the ambition] to win it all and ultimately, that would be the best way to send off Emma.”
The left-back has scored once in 22 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea this season, but earlier in her career, she dreamed of following in the footsteps of her idol Lionel Messi.
“Growing up, I was actually a midfielder [or] attacker. It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I changed to full-back. So, I’ve always been an attack minded player,” she finished.
“Growing up, I loved watched Barcelona play. I remember Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Busquets as well and just what they were able to put on [when out there on the pitch].
“I would say Messi was always my go to player [because of] just how he was technically sound and gifted and just a difference maker.
“I always try to add those elements to my position as a full-back. In the modern day, a full-back isn’t only a defender. We have to add to the attack where we can and I like going forward and getting back. It’s always a challenge on that wing [in terms] of who’s going to win that one vs one battle.
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“There’s a lot of players [I look up to]. If I think of an actual full-back, Alexander Arnold [would be someone I’d pick]. But he [Messi] was always my idol, so I would say Messi over Ronaldo, but you can’t take away from what Ronaldo’s done as well.”
You can tune into talkSPORT's Women's Football Show on talkSPORT 2 on Mondays from 7pm.