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Bukayo Saka has been pulled out of the England squad with a minor muscle injury.
Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka has withdrawn from England’s team owing to a minor muscular injury.
Saka has been in excellent form for Arsenal this season, as they sit top of the Premier League and prepare for a Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.
However, the 22-year-old will miss England’s friendlies against Brazil on Saturday and Belgium on Tuesday, which are the last two games before Gareth Southgate announces his Euro 2024 selection in May.
Saka had a little muscle problem, so he withdrew as a precaution. He will be tested further at Arsenal in the coming days.
“Bukayo Saka has left the England camp and returned to his club for further rehabilitation,” the Football Association confirmed Thursday.
“The Arsenal attacker reported to St George’s Park with an injury and was unable to train.
“No further replacements are yet in consideration as a 25-man England squad continue their preparation for the forthcoming internationals with Brazil and Belgium.”
Saka, captain Harry Kane, Cole Palmer, and Jordan Henderson worked on an individual plan at St George’s Park on Wednesday.
Arsenal return from the international break with a top-of-the-table clash against Manchester City at the Etihad on March 31.
Bukayo Saka’s withdrawal: Another blow to Southgate’s Euros preparation
England’s showpiece Wembley friendlies against Brazil and Belgium this month were designed to provide Gareth Southgate with a thorough evaluation of his Euro 2024 preparations ahead of this summer’s tournament. But Bukayo Saka’s absence is only the latest setback to those aspirations.
With Harry Kane, Cole Palmer, and Jordan Henderson forced to train indoors on Wednesday due to fitness issues, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luke Shaw, Kieran Trippier, Marc Guehi, and Levi Colwill out injured, the starting XI against Brazil on Saturday evening could be very different from the side that begins the Euros campaign in Germany in June.
Of course, players pulling out creates opportunity for others. Phil Foden will likely assume Saka’s right-wing spot, giving Marcus Rashford or Anthony Gordon an opportunity to shine on the left. Or perhaps Jarrod Bowen can demonstrate his form, which has resulted in 14 Premier League goals this season, by coming in from the right wing.
But now isn’t the time to experiment. The final two warm-up games against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland come before the Euros, but Southgate has missed the opportunity to witness his strongest squad in full flow against two of the world’s finest teams.
