Bukayo Saka trained with the team on Sunday to prepare for England’s match against Ghana. Previously, Saka had to train individually on Saturday as the winger continued treatment for an Achilles tendon injury, an injury that has affected his form in recent months in the domestic league with Arsenal.
Head coach Thomas Tuchel revealed he did not expect the right winger to be fit enough to start until the final match of Group L against Panama. But Saka also stepped up his fitness training on Sunday.
The Three Lions coach said: “I am not the person in charge of physiotherapy, but he hasn’t missed a day of training, so I think that’s a good thing. I think he has played a lot of matches over the past few years.
You can see Saka is an important player for Arsenal. He is a top-quality player and brings quality to the pitch, for Arsenal and the England team. I think he has a significant role, as everyone can see.
Managing minor injuries before entering a tournament is very important for the later stages. The team always needs crucial players like him, players who are always ready to take the pitch and perform well when called upon”.
Sources from ESPN revealed that Saka is following a fitness management plan to ensure he can play a more active role in the tournament. Saka only played the final 18 minutes in England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas, while his Arsenal teammate Noni Madueke was chosen to start. The Three Lions will travel to Foxborough, Massachusetts to face Ghana on Tuesday. After that is the final group stage match against Panama on June 27.
