Lauren James out for at least five Chelsea matches with hamstring injury

Chelsea will be without Lauren James for at least their next five matches, manager Sonia Bompastor has said. The England forward was hurt during the 6-0 win over Charlton Athletic.

James, 25, left the field in the 35th minute of that Women's Super League game. Bompastor said a scan confirmed a hamstring injury. The hamstring is the group of muscles at the back of the thigh, and it is a common problem for players who sprint and turn quickly.

Chelsea host Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday without her. They then face champions Manchester City next weekend, and James will miss that match too. Bompastor said James will not be seen again until the end of this block of fixtures, which is the run of league games before the next break. BBC Sport

The injury also puts her availability in doubt for England's World Cup qualifying play-offs against Ukraine in December. A play-off is a single knockout tie, or a pair of ties, that decides which team qualifies. England will be hoping their forward is fit for those games, but that is now uncertain.

There was some better news for Chelsea. Midfielder Lexi Potter is back after missing the trip to Charlton. The club also sit top of the Women's Super League table, the standings that rank every team in England's top women's league.

James has spent much of her career fighting injury. She has been ruled out of England squads before and later returned, so her return from this setback will be watched closely. For now, Chelsea must manage the next few weeks without one of their most dangerous attacking players.