Chelsea forward Lauren James has been named the Barclays Women’s Super League Player of the Month for January after a scintillating showing in front of goal, which helped the Blues achieve maximum points from our two league fixtures.

James replicated the kind of form which saw her crowned WSL Player of the Month in November, and the 22-year-old takes home this accolade once more after netting five goals in two matches during January.

We overcame Manchester United 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in our first league game of the New Year, where James was undoubtedly the star of the show with an impressive hat-trick which helped to eclipse her former side.

Our second and last league fixture of the month took us to Brighton & Hove Albion where we recorded a 3-0 victory thanks to an instinctive header from Fran Kirby and a superbly taken brace from James, who produced two emphatic finishes to preserve our three-point lead at the top of the WSL.

Congratulations on your award, Lauren!