Gary Neville has voiced his concerns over Bukayo Saka's form ahead of England's World Cup campaign this summer. The Arsenal star has been dealing with fitness concerns ever since the closing stages of last season, with his playing time carefully monitored since he joined up with the Three Lions squad at the beginning of the month.
Saka's Fitness and Performance Under Scrutiny
An Achilles problem was being closely watched by Arsenal during the final weeks of the campaign, with the 24-year-old restricted to a place on the substitutes' bench for England's opening World Cup fixtures against Croatia and Ghana. On Saturday night, Saka was handed a starting role by Thomas Tuchel for the Three Lions' 2-0 victory over Panama. The forward was withdrawn in the 63rd minute, moments after Jude Bellingham broke the deadlock.
Yet Neville has outlined what troubled him about Saka's performance against Panama, with co-host and Arsenal legend Ian Wright expressing concerns about the Gunners star's fitness.
Neville and Wright Share Their Concerns
"Bukayo Saka doesn't look right at all," Neville said on the latest episode of the Stick to Football from The Overlap. "He's usually the boy that's bubbling and smiling, he's got that competitive edge to him, but he's not right and that's a concern to us I think."
Arsenal icon Wright elaborated on his unease regarding Saka's fitness at the World Cup for England. "Has Bukayo Saka been rushed back? We're going into a World Cup, and still not starting the first few games. Only starting when we're three games in, and still isn't looking like the Saka that we know – this guy needs a break," Wright said.
Injury Woes for England
Tuchel has already been forced to contend with injury worries at the World Cup, after Tino Livramento was withdrawn from the squad ahead of the tournament's opening fixtures. Reece James is also on the sidelines with a hamstring injury that ruled the right-back out of the weekend victory over Panama.
England claimed top spot in Group L and now face DR Congo in their round of 32 clash on Tuesday evening in Atlanta. Victory would set up a last-16 encounter against either Mexico or Ecuador, to be played in Mexico City on Sunday night. Canada became the first nation to secure their place in the last-16 following a dramatic last-minute triumph over South Africa in their round of 32 tie on Sunday evening.
