Bukayo Saka resumes full training with England
Bukayo Saka has returned to full training with England in Foxborough, Massachusetts, providing a timely boost after concerns over the Achilles issue that hampered the closing stages of his season with Arsenal. The 24-year-old winger rejoined group sessions on Sunday after training individually the previous day as England's medical staff carefully managed his workload ahead of the crucial stages of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Saka's fitness concern after limited appearance
Saka's fitness had been a point of concern after he was limited to an 18-minute substitute appearance in England's 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas. However, the Arsenal star looked comfortable during the latest training session, offering encouragement to head coach Thomas Tuchel and the Three Lions camp. His return comes as a significant boost for England ahead of their second Group L fixture at Boston Stadium, with Saka expected to play a key role in the team's attacking plans.
Tuchel's cautious approach to recovery
England coach Thomas Tuchel has adopted a cautious approach to the Arsenal star's recovery, prioritising his long-term fitness over short-term risks. Tuchel emphasised the importance of carefully managing minor physical issues during a demanding tournament schedule to ensure key players remain available for the latter stages. With the knockout rounds looming, England will be eager to keep one of their most influential attacking weapons fit, and Saka's return to full training represents a positive step in that direction.
Tuchel's comments on Saka's importance
"I'm not in the physio department, but he hasn't missed a day of training, so I think that's a good thing," Tuchel said, as quoted by ESPN. "I think he's played so many games throughout these last few years. You can see he's a crucial player for Arsenal. He's a top-quality player, and he brings quality to the pitch for Arsenal and England." Tuchel added, "I think he's very important, as everyone can see. Managing niggles going into a competition is very important for the latter stages. You need important players like him to be ready to play and step up when called upon."
England's group stage fixtures
England is currently top of Group L after the first round of matches and will face Ghana on Tuesday before concluding their group-stage fixtures against Panama. Saka's availability will be crucial as England aims to secure progression to the knockout stages with key attacking options at full strength.
