Chelsea return to Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) action this Sunday, when they will host Brighton and Hove Albion.
Head coach Sonia Bompastor spoke to the media ahead of the fixture, providing an update on squad fitness. The manager said “We are still assessing some players from the international break, but almost all the squad should be available.”
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Hamano ‘unwell’ during Brighton buildup
The Blues boss delivered several important injury updates ahead of this weekend’s clash, including a question mark over Maika Hamano. Bompastor said: “I need to talk to the medical staff to see everything. We have Maika who just felt unwell. She’s fine now, but will see if she is 100 per cent or not”
Niamh Charles has been absent since suffering a dislocated shoulder during pre-season, and the head coach confirmed “Niamh was almost ready for the Manchester United game before the international window, but we didn’t want to take any risk especially because we were in a position where she had two more weeks to build. She’s completely fit now and she’s ready to be in the squad.”
Bompastor also touched on the recovery of Sam Kerr, who suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament last season. She said: “We are maybe looking at having her [Kerr] back with us in February or March – not before that. She hasn’t started yet to train and be modified with the group. She’s still on her individual process rehab. I think it will take at least two or three more months for her to be fit enough with the squad.”
Lauren James has additionally been on the sidelines since October after sustaining a calf injury. On her return, Bompastor explained “I think it will be difficult to see LJ before the end of the year, but we still have a small hope of that. We’ll see but I’m more expecting her to play with us in January.”
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Wiegman has ‘the same vision’ for Beever-Jones
Bompastor spoke at some length about 21-year-old Aggie Beever-Jones, who she says “has the right mentality”, and got valuable minutes under her belt for the Lionesses during the international break.
The manager explained “It’s good for her to start a game with England, I spoke a lot with Sarina [Wiegman] – and I speak a lot with all the national team coaches about my players – and on Aggie, we have the same vision.”
“She has a lot of talent. She’s still young. She needs to work on things in the game, but this is what we have been doing with her, making sure that when she doesn’t start a game, she keeps the confidence,” Bompastor continued.
Midfielder Erin Cuthbert had a particularly busy window, playing the full 90 minutes of both legs for Scotland against Finland. The latter ended in a 2-0 aggregate defeat, as Scotland failed to qualify for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 .
“These games meant a lot for her and to the country, so when you don’t qualify you can struggle mentality because it’s a big disappointment,” empathised Bompastor.
The head coach concluded “But we are here as a club, as staff, and as a manager to support her. It’s normal to be disappointed from not qualifying, but she’s back with us and she’s a high-level athlete. She has the experience and just needs to focus now on the club.”
Chelsea will host Brighton in the WSL at Kingsmeadow on Sunday, with kick off set for 14:00 (GMT). The match will be available to watch live on YouTube.