England winger Bukayo Saka missed Friday's training session ahead of his side's World Cup clash against Ghana, with the Football Association confirming he is following an individual programme to manage an ongoing Achilles injury. The 24-year-old Arsenal star has been dealing with the issue since March, and England coach Thomas Tuchel has stressed the careful management of Saka's workload throughout the tournament.
Saka's injury management and training absence
Saka did not participate in the team's practice at England's base in Kansas City, but the FA has not indicated his availability for Tuesday's Group L fixture is in doubt. The winger came off the bench in England's 4-2 victory over Croatia in their opening match, making an immediate impact by assisting Marcus Rashford's late goal. Saka had earlier stated he was willing to risk playing through the injury to feature at the World Cup, while Tuchel noted he is unlikely to play full matches consistently.
England's group standings and upcoming fixtures
England currently tops Group L after the first round of matches. They will face Ghana on Tuesday before concluding their group-stage fixtures against Panama. The Three Lions are aiming to build on their strong start, with captain Harry Kane scoring a brace in the win over Croatia.
Kane inspired by Messi and Haaland
Harry Kane admitted to being inspired by the performances of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who secured his first-ever World Cup hat-trick against Algeria, and Norway's Erling Haaland, who scored a brace on his World Cup debut. After England's 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas, Kane said, "Obviously, I saw the guys scoring their goals, and I do not like to concentrate too much on other people. But I think it is natural, as a sportsman, as an athlete, to try and reach the highest levels and obviously, all those guys started in a great way."
Team spirit and competition for places
Kane also highlighted the squad's hunger and excitement. "You can see the hunger, the desire and excitement from the players to be part of what could be a special summer," he said. "There's real competition for places, but no negativity, just a shared focus on performing when called upon." England will look to continue their momentum against Ghana as they aim for a deep run in the 2026 World Cup.
