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Bukayo Saka, Arsenal Forward has been named England Men’s Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season for the second time in a row.
Despite another good domestic season with the Gunners during their surprising Premier League title run, the winger continued to shine in an England jersey.
When Gareth Southgate was in charge of England at the 2022 World Cup, Saka was a frequent starter. He scored three goals and earned a penalty that Harry Kane converted in the team’s quarterfinal loss to France.
Saka has contributed to four consecutive Three Lions Euro 2024 qualification triumphs since the turn of the year, first scoring and setting up Kane in a 2-0 win over Ukraine in March.
The Arsenal youth product then lit up Old Trafford with his first professional hat-trick in a 7-0 hammering of North Macedonia in June, becoming the club’s first player to do so since Theo Walcott against Croatia in 2008.
Bukayo Saka | Stats
Saka, who turned 22 on Tuesday, now has a record for England with 11 goals. Also, he has seven assists from 28 appearances across all competitions. The forward was honored for his achievements with a second straight Men’s Player of the Year title.
The attacker won the prize over Declan Rice and Kane in the 2021-22 season. He is also third this time around, with Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham coming in second.
“I’m really grateful, thank you to everyone who helped make this happen,” Saka said after being presented with the trophy by Tottenham Hotspur’s James Maddison.
“It’s also a nice birthday present, so I’m pleased.”
Only Danny Welbeck (second in 2014) and Theo Walcott (third in 2008) had previously placed in the top three since the award’s inception in 2003. Saka is the first member of the Arsenal team to get the honor.
The 22-year-old is the only other man to have done it. Kane was the last English player to do so in 2017 and 2018.
Following Frank Lampard’s victories in 2004 and 2005, Wayne Rooney claimed three victories in 2008, 2009, 2014, and 2015.
The England team is now preparing for both their Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine on Saturday. They will also have their 150th Anniversary Heritage match against Scotland on September 12.
Saka, a young player from Arsenal, did not participate in Tuesday’s practice, but England is still ready for both matches.
Chelsea’s Levi Colwill and Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson were also present, but their absences are said to have been precautionary.
