Saka Says He Is Ready To Go For England World Cup
Bukayo Saka said he is ready to go for England world cup duty against Croatia despite a nagging Achilles injury. The 24-year-old forward is still being monitored carefully, and England may have to decide whether to use him on Wednesday in Dallas.
Saka And Tuchel In Dallas
Saka said he is continuing to gamble on his fitness and feels better than he has in months. "I don’t want to say anything that goes against the manager. But what I would say between Mikel [Arteta] and Arsenal’s medical team and England’s medical team, since March they have managed me amazingly and helped me get back on the pitch and do what I can for the team. I am feeling better than I have felt for the last few months. I am ready to go."
He added: "At the end of the day people don’t really care how you’re feeling, they expect you to deliver, they expect you to perform. I’m happy to take the gamble. It paid off, I’d say. I’m going to continue doing that. But I am feeling a lot better than I did in March and I’m ready to go."
Thomas Tuchel has warned that Saka’s fitness is being monitored carefully, and Noni Madueke could start in his place on the right side of England’s attack if Saka is not risked against Croatia.
March Injury Trail
Saka is believed to have picked up the injury during the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City in March. After that match, he missed Arsenal’s next seven games, and since March he has completed 90 minutes only once in five appearances.
He also came off the bench in England’s last warm-up game against Costa Rica, another sign that his minutes have been managed closely rather than pushed back to full load all at once. Saka said Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s medical team and England’s medical team have handled that process since March.
The forward said winning Arsenal’s first Premier League title for 22 years has given the players more confidence and freedom, a note that sits alongside the fitness debate rather than replacing it. England know exactly what they are carrying into Wednesday: a forward who says he is ready, and a manager who has already been told to watch him closely.
Stones Keeps His Run
John Stones is expected to start his 25th tournament game in a row, another selection call that shows how much England are leaning on players with different fitness histories. Stones has been used sparingly by City this season, yet he said he feels as good as he has ever been before a tournament after previously considering retiring at the end of last season.
His situation runs on a separate track from Saka’s, but it adds to the same England picture: Tuchel is balancing form, fitness and minutes as Croatia approach in Dallas. For Saka, the immediate question is whether the gamble he says he is happy to take turns into a start on Wednesday, or another controlled appearance off the bench.
