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The Guardian World1 min read
England taking care of Saka before World Cup - Tuchel
TL;DR
England head coach Thomas Tuchel is managing Bukayo Saka's fitness ahead of the World Cup due to a previous muscle injury. Saka, a key player for the team, has returned to form after missing part of the season.
Key points
- Thomas Tuchel is managing Bukayo Saka's fitness for the World Cup
- Saka missed part of the season due to a muscle injury
- He returned in time for Arsenal's Premier League title run
- Saka has scored 14 goals in 48 appearances for England
Mentioned in this story
Bukayo SakaThomas TuchelArsenal
World Cup
England head coach Thomas Tuchel says Bukayo Saka's fitness is being carefully managed heading into the World Cup.
The Arsenal attacker missed part of the season climax through a muscle injury, though he did return in time for the club's run-in as they won the Premier League title.
Tuchel said Saka, who has scored 14 goals in 48 appearances for the Three Lions, still requires careful attention before the tournament which has raised some concerns given he is a key player.
"We still have to take a little bit of care for Bukayo [Saka] who had an injury in March and carried it through the club campaign," Tuchel told a news conference.
"He made himself available at the end of the season and did so brilliantly, but he was managed in between matches. That continues a bit at the moment - we are building him up.
"We just came from training and everyone was involved including Bukayo."
Tuchel said he must assess Saka and the rest of his England squad before deciding who starts the final warm-up match against Costa Rica on Wednesday (21:00 BST).
Having made 11 changes at half-time in Saturday's 1-0 win against New Zealand, Tuchel will give some players a longer run-out to build their fitness before the tournament opener with Croatia.
John Stones is among the players who could benefit from more game time having played a peripheral role at Manchester City last season.
"Of course [Stones can start]. Everyone can start - everyone is fit and ready and John is one of them," said Tuchel.
"Before this, we have two more matches to play and hopefully we take the next step. Hopefully we all stay healthy and have the full availability for Croatia.
"No-one needs a break. Everyone is available which is very good news. No [injury] complaints after the first match.
"[We've had] one day of recovery and two good training sessions. We are ready to give it a push tomorrow - meaning more than 45 minutes.
"Players will play 60, maybe 70 minutes. We will make this decision in the afternoon."
'Challengers, not favourites'
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Q&A
What injury did Bukayo Saka have before the World Cup?
Bukayo Saka had a muscle injury that he sustained in March, which affected his performance during the season.
How many goals has Bukayo Saka scored for England?
Bukayo Saka has scored 14 goals in 48 appearances for the England national team.
What is Thomas Tuchel's role regarding Bukayo Saka?
Thomas Tuchel is the head coach of England and is responsible for managing Bukayo Saka's fitness as they prepare for the World Cup.
How is Bukayo Saka's fitness being managed before the World Cup?
Saka's fitness is being carefully managed by gradually building him up after his injury, with attention to his recovery and performance.
