Ward delighted with progress of strike pair

Chelsea forward Helen Ward has lavished praise on summer signings Sofia Jakobsson and Eniola Aluko following the Blues' impressive start to the season. Emma Hayes's side currently lie in second place in The FA WSL table ahead of the trip to Birmingham City on Tuesday night and appear to be in real contention to challenge for the title this term. And Jakobsson and Aluko have played a big part in Chelsea's early-season form, netting seven goals between them to spearhead the west Londoners' title tilt. Ward (nee Lander) has been impressed by the duo's start to life at Wheatsheaf Park and says it's a pleasure to play alongside such exciting attacking players. She said: "They've had a massive impact so far, Sofia in particular. She's got five goals, and for a foreign player coming into a new league she's settled in really well. "She's only young but she's obviously got experience - she plays for the Swedish national team which is a great side. "Eni, of course, has been around the England set-up for years and years. She's scored goals at every team she's been at, so it's massive for us to have so many goals in the team - last year we struggled with that. It's a pleasure to play alongside players like that." Aluko, who is in her second spell at Chelsea, left Birmingham at the end of last season. Ward feels her new team-mate's switch has given Rachel Williams the opportunity to shine for David Parker's team. The Birmingham forward has hit seven goals in eight games, including a spectacular long-range effort against Chelsea on the opening day of the season. Ward added: "Rachel's a great player. She came flying out of the blocks in the first season of The WSL but was a bit quieter last year, but that's possibly because they had goals shared around their team with the likes of Eni and Jodie [Taylor]. "But again she's taken the mantle on and she's their primary goalscorer. The goal she scored against us on the opening day was top drawer - I don't think any ‘keeper would have got near that. "There's not much we could have done about that. She's a top player and I think she's going to go on to win many England caps in the future."