Sonia Bompastor: Chelsea coach provides promising injury update ahead of London derby | OneFootball

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor has issued a promising injury update ahead of the team’s huge Women’s Super League (WSL) clash against London rivals Arsenal this weekend.

This is one of the most noteworthy fixtures in the women’s football calendar with two of England’s biggest clubs going head to head. This season, the permutations are even greater as Arsenal look to close the seven-point gap to Chelsea at the top of the league standings.

Sonia Bompastor’s side emerged victorious in the previous meeting at the Emirates Stadium earlier in the campaign in what was Jonas Eidevall’s last game in charge of the Gunners. Mayra Ramirez and Sandy Baltimore were among the goals that day, while Caitlin Foord pulled one back late in the first half.

However, Arsenal are a different prospect this time around as Renee Slegers, who was given the permanent job as head coach last week after a successful spell as interim, has sparked a new lease of life in the squad. The Gunners are unbeaten under the Dutch coach and have drawn just once against Manchester United.

It is for that reason the manager will be delighted to have Lauren James available for selection again after another spell out of the team through injury. The 23-year-old sustained a calf injury back in October and has been sidelined ever since, but has recently returned to training and is available for selection.

“Lauren James is back in the squad and could practice normally this morning so it’s good news,” Bompastor told the media in a press conference on Friday afternoon.

Sunday’s meeting between the London clubs will also be significant as more than 32,000 tickets have been sold so far and Chelsea are set to beat their attendance record for a WSL game. The manager insists the players are extremely excited about playing another match in SW6 and the pressure that comes with it is only positive.

“Having the opportunity to play in front of our fans will be a big help for us,” Bompastor continued. “More than 32,000 tickets have been sold and it will be a new record for us.

“Everyone is really excited and the players love to play at Stamford Bridge. It’s a positive pressure and it’s good to have pressure when you play these games.

“It’s a matter of finding the right balance of pressure but it will be positive for the players and they are all really excited. When we play at Stamford Bridge it is always a special game for the players and it brings an extra motivation to them and the atmosphere will be great.

“Everyone wants to be involved in that and in a positive way.”