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

Lauren James’ brilliance is hardly breaking news. Yet somehow, she still finds new ways to stun a stadium into silence.

On Sunday, in Chelsea’s ruthless 5-0 dismantling of her former club Manchester United, one moment summed it up. Hemmed in by the touchline, defenders swarming, James took the ball under pressure and refused to accept the usual limits of space and balance. She twisted, shielded, kept it in play when it looked certain to roll out, then slipped away from challenges that should have stopped her. Heads in the stands turned to each other with the same expression: how on earth had she pulled that off?

That flash of audacity was just a side note on an afternoon that again underlined her status as United’s recurring nightmare. James found the net for the fifth time in five Women’s Super League games against the Red Devils, finishing with the cold precision of a seasoned centre forward. Darting into the box, she latched onto a superb pass from the outstanding Keira Walsh and buried the chance with minimal fuss. One run, one touch, one clinical strike.

This was James leading the line for Chelsea, a role she stepped into at times last season when injuries forced a reshuffle and one she was asked to reprise here. But this wasn’t a classic No.9 performance. Sonia Bompastor didn’t chain her to the penalty spot. She set her free.

Rather than acting as a traditional target at the top of the pitch, James operated as a false nine, roaming wherever the game demanded. Bompastor relied on Sjoeke Nüsken and Wieke Kaptein to punch holes in behind, their runs making sure the penalty area never felt empty even when James drifted away from it. With that security, Chelsea’s No.10 could tap into the full breadth of her game.

Given licence to wander left and right, James tormented United. Her two-footedness turned every touch into a guessing game for defenders. One moment she was curling in teasing crosses, the next she was shaping shots that forced Phallon Tullis-Joyce into action. When she wasn’t shooting, she was drawing markers, opening lanes, and generally posing questions United simply couldn’t answer.

It might not have been Bompastor’s original blueprint to use James in this way. It might not even be her preferred long-term plan. But when a player can excel in almost any attacking role, a coach has the luxury of adapting on the fly. James gives you that luxury.

The contrast with a year ago is stark. This time last season, she was only a few weeks into what became a three-and-a-half-month injury lay-off, her campaign stalling just as it should have been taking off. Now she is fit, sharp, and punishing opponents who give her even a yard.

If that continues, her influence stretches far beyond one emphatic win in the WSL. Chelsea’s attempt to erase the memory of a disappointing year will lean heavily on her versatility and cutting edge. So will the Lionesses’ push for World Cup glory when this season reaches its climax.

Keep her on the pitch, and both club and country suddenly look a lot closer to where they want to be.