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Saka Injury Update | Due to a hamstring injury, Arsenal forward has withdrawn from the England team for the October internationals.
The 22-year-old has been out with a hamstring injury since Tuesday’s Champions League setback to Lens, in which he was replaced in the first half of a 2-1 loss.
Mikel Arteta’s choice to start Saka received criticism, given the winger has previously limped out in Premier League matches against Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur.
Saka’s injury occurred five days before Arsenal’s visit to Manchester City, and Arteta rightly kept the details of his injury under wraps, but he was called up to England’s squad by Gareth Southgate last Thursday.
Saka was seen arriving with the rest of the squad as Arteta informed reporters on Friday that he was “in contention” to face the champions, fueling optimism of a quicker-than-expected comeback.
Arteta, on the other hand, was ostensibly simply playing mind games with his previous team, as Saka did not make the squad for the 1-0 triumph, in which Gabriel Martinelli overcame hamstring concerns to score the game-winning goal.
Following the game, Arteta stated emphatically that Saka would not be able to play for his country this month, despite the fact that he reported for international duty at St George’s Park on Monday to undergo examinations.
Saka is out of England Squad
According to The Guardian, Southgate was hopeful that Saka would be ready for England’s second game of the month against Italy, whilst Arsenal wanted him to rest completely for the next two weeks.
The Gunners got their wish, as England revealed on Monday evening that Saka had to withdraw from the squad, and Southgate has no plans to replace him.
“Bukayo Saka will not play in England’s games against Australia or Italy.” The forward arrived at St. George’s Park on Monday, along with the rest of the Three Lions squad, according to a release.
“After missing Arsenal’s Premier League victory over Manchester City on Sunday due to injury, Saka was evaluated by England’s medical team, and it was decided that the player would continue his rehabilitation at his club.” Gareth Southgate has a squad of 25 players to work with, so no replacements are planned.”
Saka had participated in a club-record 87 Premier League games for Arsenal before to missing Sunday’s victory over Manchester City, and the team is confident that he will be able to face Chelsea on October 21, according to the Evening Standard.
Saka became the first player in Europe’s top five divisions this season to record five goals. He also became the first player to have five assists against Lens last week, setting up Gabriel Jesus’ opener before being pulled.
He joins Luke Shaw, Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Tyrone Mings, Callum Wilson, and Eberechi Eze on England’s injury list, and Southgate has decided not to replace the Arsenal man with in-form Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling.
England returns to action on Friday against Australia at Wembley before hosting Italy in a Euro 2024 qualifier on October 17.
