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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>James absent as Chelsea beat Aston Villa</li><li>Blues face Barca in UWCL semi-final on Saturday</li><li>Hayes unsure if England star will be fit for first leg</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes gives cryptic response on Lauren James fitness ahead of Barcelona Champions League showdown as England star sits out Aston Villa romp

Liverpool FC Women

Chelsea FC Women

James played the full 90 minutes on Sunday <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/emma-hayes-winners-losers-mary-earps-rachel-williams-man-utd-fa-cup-chelsea/blt9c17e7467dc67396" target="_blank">as the Blues lost 2-1 to Manchester United in the FA Cup</a>, but she wasn't in the squad for <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/chelsea-player-ratings-aston-villa-uswnt-catarina-macario-emma-hayes-wsl/blt44c9c56f8919257f" target="_blank">the 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Wednesday night</a> that saw the English champions return to the top of the Women's Super League table.

WHAT HAPPENED?

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/patri-guijarro-barcelona-star-world-class-womens-champions-league-wolfsburg/blt85a282eb2437c60f" target="_blank">Barcelona are the reigning European champions</a> and arguably the best team in the world right now, so Chelsea face an incredibly tough task as they bid to reach their second UWCL final. It'll be even more difficult if they have to do it without James.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Asked by Sky Sports if James will be available again for the first leg on Saturday, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes replied: "I don't know. We'll have to see when the players come back in on Friday."

WHAT HAYES SAID

James has been one of the Blues' star performers this season and has really stepped up while players like Sam Kerr have been absent through injury. The England forward has 16 goals in all competitions, with her 13 in the league putting her second in the running for the Golden Boot.

DID YOU KNOW?

Chelsea will certainly hope that she is available for the trip to Barcelona this weekend then as the Blues look to pick up a positive result to take back to Stamford Bridge for the second leg.

WHAT NEXT FOR JAMES AND CHELSEA?

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes gives cryptic response on Lauren James fitness ahead of Barcelona Champions League showdown as England star sits out Aston Villa romp | Goal.com

Chelsea could be without Lionesses star Lauren James for their huge UEFA Women&apos;s Champions League semi-final clash with Barcelona on Saturday.

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