Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka will miss England’s upcoming matches against Australia and Italy after undergoing assessments by Football Association medics, traveling over 100 miles for the evaluation. This decision comes as a relief for Arsenal, who had to sideline the winger in their victory over Manchester City due to a hamstring injury.
Saka arrived at St George’s Park on Monday, and after approximately three and a half hours of evaluation, the FA announced his return to Arsenal. Arsenal had hoped for clearance for Saka to rest during the international break. Mikel Arteta expressed Saka’s unavailability for football at the moment, emphasizing his inability to represent his country in his current condition.
Saka suffered a slight hamstring strain during Arsenal’s loss to Lens last week, prompting England to assess his fitness. The FA decided that Saka would continue his rehabilitation at his club, with no plans for replacements. Saka, who had an impressive run of 87 consecutive starts in the Premier League, missed the game against City, highlighting his importance as a key player for Gareth Southgate.
While England tops Group C with 13 points from five games, Saka’s absence is a setback for Southgate. The manager had hoped to have Saka available for the Italy game at Wembley next Tuesday, although he was unlikely to risk the player in the friendly against Australia on Friday.
Southgate, considering alternative wide options like Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, and Marcus Rashford, has maintained a policy of players reporting for duty even when injured. This approach ensures a thorough evaluation of players, allowing the coaching staff to make informed decisions regarding their participation.