England’s manager, Gareth Southgate, had initially called Saka up for international duty ahead of Friday’s friendly match against Australia and the crucial Euros qualifier with Italy. However, following thorough medical examinations carried out by the England medical team, it was determined that Saka was not in optimal condition to represent his country.
Saka’s absence has caused a ripple effect, as Southgate has decided not to replace him in the squad. This means that Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling, who was not initially part of the England camp, will not receive a last-minute call-up.
Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, had already voiced concerns about Saka’s fitness. The 22-year-old winger has been dealing with a series of injuries, including thigh, Achilles, and hamstring issues, in recent weeks.
The decision to have players undergo assessments by the Football Association (FA) has become a standard practice within the England camp. Southgate even consulted with Arteta last week to evaluate Saka’s fitness. Arteta had initially stated that Saka was “in contention” to play against Manchester City before later clarifying that he was never fit enough to be included in the squad.
England had hoped to have Saka available for the critical match against Italy on Tuesday, October 17, which could secure their place in the upcoming Euros finals next summer. This would have provided Saka with over a week of rest and preparation. However, the medical team’s assessment led to his withdrawal, with the hope that he can recuperate and potentially feature for Arsenal against Chelsea on Saturday, October 21.The Football Association issued a statement regarding Saka’s situation, confirming that he had reported to St. George’s Park along with the rest of the Three Lions’ squad. However, after missing Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Manchester City due to injury, the England medical team decided it was best for Saka to continue his rehabilitation at his club. Notably, there are no plans to fill Saka’s spot, leaving Southgate with a squad of 25 players for upcoming fixtures.Despite Saka’s absence, Southgate remains optimistic about England’s prospects. He emphasized the importance of winning the match against Italy and securing qualification. Southgate views it as an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to consistently defeat top-ten-ranked nations, building on their previous success in Naples in March when they secured a convincing victory.
Disclaimer Statement: This content is authored by a 3rd party. The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). ET does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of its contents nor is responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that any information and content provided is correct, updated, and verified. ET hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, relating to the report and any content therein.
