​Chelsea star Lauren James has been named the Women's Super League Player of the Month for January

Chelsea star Lauren James has been named the Women's Super League Player of the Month for January after scoring five goals in just two games. Despite the limited number of league matches in January due to cup competitions, James made the most of her opportunities in the WSL. She secured a hat-trick against her former club Manchester United and followed it up with a brace against Brighton. These performances saw her edge out competition from Arsenal's Emily Fox, Manchester City's Bonnie Shaw and Lea Alexandri, Leicester City's Janice Cayman, and West Ham United forward Vivianne Asseyi to claim the honor in a fiercely contested race.



James' goals not only brought personal glory but also marked her second Player of the Month award of the season, following her win in November last year. The performance of this English star has also helped Chelsea maintain their position at the top of the WSL table. The defending champions are now three points ahead of Manchester City and six points ahead of Arsenal, with nine games remaining in the season. The Blues are currently chasing their fifth consecutive league win.



James is also in contention for another significant individual award this season as she is one of the frontrunners for the WSL Golden Boot. The 22-year-old player has scored 12 goals in 12 matches this season, just one behind Manchester City forward Shaw. The focus for James and Chelsea this weekend will be on the FA Cup as they face Crystal Palace in the fifth round on Sunday. The Blues have been dominant in English women's football and are aiming to lift the trophy for the fourth consecutive season.