Lauren James Shines in Chelsea's 5-0 Victory Over Manchester United

Lauren James’ talent has never been in doubt. The surprise now is that she still finds new ways to stun people who already know how good she is.

On Sunday, in a ruthless 5-0 dismantling of her former club Manchester United, she produced one of those moments that leaves a stadium buzzing. Hemmed in on the touchline, pressure all around her, James somehow kept the ball glued to her feet, stayed in play and slalomed away from a cluster of red shirts. Heads turned, eyebrows raised. The question rippled around the stands: how on earth did she get out of that?

In the context of her afternoon, it was almost a throwaway detail.

Because this was another big-game James performance against United. Another goal, her fifth in five Women’s Super League matches against the Red Devils, underlined the point. The finish was as cold as it was clinical: a sharp dart into the box, a perfectly timed pass from the excellent Keira Walsh, and then a centre-forward’s strike, dispatched with zero fuss.

That was the headline moment on a day she led the line for Chelsea. She has done it before, asked to step in up top last season when injuries bit. This time, though, there was a twist.

Sonia Bompastor didn’t want a traditional No.9. She wanted a false nine, and she handed James the keys. Roam, drift, drag defenders into places they don’t want to go. While James floated, Sjoeke Nüsken and Wieke Kaptein were drilled to make those penetrating runs beyond her, ensuring the penalty area was never empty even when the nominal striker had dropped out of it.

The plan gave James the canvas she craves. With the freedom to slide left or right, she showed off that rare two-footed balance: curling in teasing crosses, shaping shots that forced Phallon Tullis-Joyce into work, and generally turning United’s defensive structure into something flimsy and fragile. They simply had no answer.

This might not have been Bompastor’s ideal blueprint when she mapped out the season. Circumstances nudged her into this setup. James made it look intentional.

What stands out most is the contrast to a year ago. At this stage last season, she was only a few weeks into what became a three-and-a-half-month injury lay-off, her campaign stalled just as it threatened to ignite. Now she is fit, sharp and decisive, influencing games from the first whistle to the last.

If that continues, the implications stretch far beyond one emphatic win in the league. Chelsea’s push to rebound from a disappointing year will lean heavily on her versatility and match-winning edge. So will the Lionesses’ hopes when the World Cup comes into view at the end of the season.

Keep her on the pitch, keep her in this kind of rhythm, and both club and country suddenly look a lot more dangerous.