England face Ghana in their second World Cup group game but Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is expected to miss out on his starting spot after missing the latest training session.
Bukayo Saka absent from England’s latest World Cup training (Image: Getty Images)
Bukayo Saka has missed training and is a major fitness concern for England. Arsenal winger Saka has been suffering from an Achilles problem in recent months and is not fit enough to start for England at the World Cup.
Saka admitted he was ready to “bet” on his fitness to play, but he has not been training normally with the rest of the group at home in Kansas City.
England star Saka has been undertaking his own fitness program and is expected to be available for Tuesday’s game against Ghana in Boston, but it is unlikely he will start.
Saka and Marcus Rashford have been training despite missing the game against Croatia with hamstring injuries, and both have performed well as substitutes and could be given the same job again.
Coach Tuchel insisted that “finishers” are just as important as the starting lineup in order to win games. The rest of the England squad and training keeper Jason Steele trained as usual on Saturday ahead of the second group game against Ghana.
England manager Tuchel revealed after the match against Croatia that Saka would need to improve in order to start, and that he could only start in the final group game against Panama.
“Bukayo is ready and will continue to prepare even more. I think he will be ready if we go to the final game of this group. He was strong in the training in small spaces. It was a question of whether the game was open and he would rise or fall,” Tuchel said.
Saka made a brief cameo appearance against Croatia (Image: Getty Images)
Tuchel is mostly fit for the game against Ghana, but a decision may need to be made. Manager Chris Sutton urged the German to give up his place in the starting XI after Rashford’s goal.
“It’s going to be a team game at the World Cup,” he said. “Tuchel will be able to manage Bukayo Saka’s minutes and discuss the opposition side with Noni Maduke starting.”
“But on the left I would choose Rashford. I think Gordon was in poor form towards the end of the season. He didn’t play much for Newcastle and didn’t seem to be up to speed yet.”
“I’m not saying he won’t play a big role as the tournament progresses, but Rashford scored well and looked good. There’s a little bit left, but at the moment I’d go with Rashford. I think he deserves a chance.”
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