Lauren James is one of England's most talented footballers – but how can manager Sarina Wiegman get the best out of her?
The answer may have come in Tuesday night's crucial 1-0 win over rivals Spain as the Chelsea forward impressed off the ball and was a terror on it.
Starting on the left wing in the 2027 World Cup qualifier at Wembley, James came close to scoring in the second half and worked tirelessly to maintain England's clean sheet as reigning world champions Spain built pressure later on.
So has it provided the blueprint for the 24-year-old and Lionesses going forward?
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'She brings something different'
In football terms, James is a maverick. She is a match-winner and a creative spark with an abnormally high level of ability.
She has been in electric form for Chelsea in recent weeks, including scoring an audacious lob in their Women’s Champions League quarter-final defeat by Arsenal.
In one of her most iconic performances, James scored twice and assisted three times in a 6-1 win over China in the group stage of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
However, her England career has been a mixed bag, largely due to disruptive injuries, as well as her high-profile sending off during England’s win over Nigeria in the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup.
She came off the bench in the final against Spain, which the Lionesses lost 1-0.
But there is a reason why James has been touted as a future Ballon d'Or Feminin winner – and when England get the best out of her, they usually win games.
"LJ set the tone. We all just followed," said England midfielder Georgia Stanway following a vital group-stage victory over the Netherlands at Euro 2025.
"She's class and she brings something different to what we've got. You give LJ the ball and you know she is going to run through everybody and get her shot off.
"If LJ is confident, then that is what we want, because we want her to enjoy herself, to play with freedom.
"Everybody else has got to do their job in order for LJ to do hers."
The biggest question is not whether James has what it takes – it is where her strongest position is for England.
She has played on the left and right wing, as well as in the number 10 position for the Lionesses, all with varying levels of success.
For Chelsea, she has even played as a number nine, but what position does Wiegman think is her best for England?
Speaking before their win over Spain, Wiegman admitted: "That's a good question. She's comfortable in several positions but I think she prefers being on the left side and the right side.
"She can play on both sides as she uses both of her feet. What we try to do is to get the best team on the pitch and put players where they can use their strengths.
"But I don't think it really matters which side LJ plays. We have different players up front who are in very good form."
'The left is her best position'
It was the third successive game against Spain that James has started on the left wing, having also been a standout performer in England’s victory over them in the Women’s Nations League last year.
She started there again in the Euro 2025 final meeting – the first time at the tournament – but had to come off after 40 minutes due to injury.
It meant Lauren Hemp switched across to the right-hand side, with Alessia Russo leading the line down the middle.
When Wiegman tried it last year, with huge success, she said the "biggest step" James had taken was improving her defensive work.
That is an area where James has often been scrutinised, but it is clear she has developed better game awareness and become tactically more shrewd.
It helps she is playing regularly on the left wing at Chelsea and has enough auditions in the bag for England that suggest that's her strongest position.
Speaking in February, Blues boss Sonia Bompastor said: "LJ can play many positions, but for me, in this team right now probably the best is left wing.
"When LJ is performing at this level, she's one of the first ones you put in your starting XI. The most important thing is to keep LJ as fit as possible.
"She can perform at a really high level and contribute a lot to the performance."
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