Chelsea’s Lucy Bronze in line for first appearance of season after injury

Lucy Bronze could make her first appearance of the season in Chelsea’s Women’s Super League clash against Tottenham on Sunday.

Bronze has not played since England’s Euro 2025 final win over Spain due to injury, but Blues boss Sonia Bompastor has confirmed both she and fellow Lionesses defender Niamh Charles will be available for the game.

Charles has been absent since picking up a knock against Aston Villa last month.

Bompastor said: “(Bronze) brings a lot of energy into the team. I think I’ve never had someone in my squad with her mentality, she’s really tough.

“It’s good to have these leaders back in the group. Really happy for them to be ready to play some minutes again.”

Chelsea are top of the table but have drawn their last two games against Manchester United in the WSL and Twente in the Champions League.

This weekend they face a high-flying Spurs side who are third in the table with four wins to their name.

Bompastor said: “I think even from last season Tottenham always had a good team in possession of the ball.

“They are in good form, good dynamic, good results for them. It will be a good challenge for us to face them. We know what to expect, we will have to be at our best level if we want to perform and get a good result.”

Arsenal boss Renee Slegers hopes tennis great Roger Federer can inspire her team following their disappointing run, which has seen them fail to win in their last three WSL games and lose to Lyon in the Champions League in midweek.

Speaking ahead of their clash with Brighton, Slegers said: “We’ve been looking at a really inspirational video of Roger Federer, what he did as a tennis player to go from point to point.

“He talks about the percentage of games he has won in his career and then the percentage of points he has won in his career.

“It’s really interesting because he talks about his mindset. The point he is playing for at that moment is the most important point. But once that point is over, it’s done and he moves on to the next one.

“He says himself that he won 54 per cent of his points. He is one of the best of all time at tennis.

“It says something about how he comes back after points and how he’s really good at being good in the most important moment.”

Elsewhere on Sunday, second-placed Manchester City travel to Liverpool, who are yet to pick up a point, and Everton host Manchester United.

London City Lionesses face bottom side West Ham and Aston Villa take on Leicester.